How to keep chickens warm without using a heat lamp??

[katelk]

Normally, probably.  But the mother hen , Myrtle, is a real witch and I do mean really.  I don't think I can handle her by myself, I caught her by surprise when I grabbed her off the nest and moved
her into the pen.  I'm not so much worried about her and the babies, they are in a warm pen, and she will keep them warm, even when the heat light is not on. (It is on during the day)  After all, she did a heck of a good job of keeping the eggs warm, and incubated them through all this cold weather we've had...weeks of very cold weather. Mostlly worried about the rest of the flock.

Normally, probably.  But the mother hen , Myrtle, is a real witch and I do mean really.  I don't think I can handle her by myself, I caught her by surprise when I grabbed her off the nest and moved
her into the pen.  I'm not so much worried about her and the babies, they are in a warm pen, and she will keep them warm, even when the heat light is not on. (It is on during the day)  After all, she did a heck of a good job of keeping the eggs warm, and incubated them through all this cold weather we've had...weeks of very cold weather. Mostlly worried about the rest of the flock.

What breeds do you have? I worry about mine a lot too. We are having a 20 below wind chill right now in TN (super rare) and I have mine with no heat source and in a coop with an open front with a tarp secured over it. I have been checking on them and they just seem to be snuggling up and doing great. The main concern is with hens and especially with Roos with large combs getting frostbite.
I have all Orpingtons which are a very weather tolerant breed. You know your ladies best so just do what you feel is best for them. They are more resilient than we think. I have been worried, but every time I go check on them, they feel toasty warm

 

[chicknmania]

What breeds do you have? I worry about mine a lot too. We are having a 20 below wind chill right now in TN (super rare) and I have mine with no heat source and in a coop with an open front with a tarp secured over it. I have been checking on them and they just seem to be snuggling up and doing great. The main concern is with hens and especially with Roos with large combs getting frostbite.
I have all Orpingtons which are a very weather tolerant breed. You know your ladies best so just do what you feel is best for them. They are more resilient than we think. I have been worried, but every time I go check on them, they feel toasty warm

I slipped out first thing and turned on the heat light for mom and babies, and the others. Myrtle had her babies all under her. Most of the flock was snuggled together in the straw. Keeping the barn closed and that will probably help a lot. We have mostly mixed breeds, but we have two Ameracaunas and I am most worried about them, they are just pullets, we did have three and we already lost one before Christmas due to the cold, or I think it was the cold, anyway. We also have an old Silkie roo, he's a pretty tough little guy though, and two Silver Laced Wyandottes (they always look warm), and two Barred Rock pullets, I am not really worried about them either. All the rest are mixed, plus we have four peafowl. About 40 birds altogether. The ones low on the pecking order will be coldest, I'm sure, and that includes the Ameracaunas..:/ everyone picks on them!

 

[ChicaChicaChoo]

Thank you for the answers.

We're in CT and it's supposed to be like 9 below. My man friend told me to do the same thing so I covered all the surfaces, used some items like a hay bale, wood pallets, and half a dog kennel as wind breaks, draped a tarp and moving blanket over the coop.

I might freak out and bring them in the house, but I have 2 golden retrievers in here, not sure which is worse, that or the cold, probably the dogs.

I'm so worred about them.

Here cheak

Thank you for the answers.

We're in CT and it's supposed to be like 9 below. My man friend told me to do the same thing so I covered all the surfaces, used some items like a hay bale, wood pallets, and half a dog kennel as wind breaks, draped a tarp and moving blanket over the coop.

I might freak out and bring them in the house, but I have 2 golden retrievers in here, not sure which is worse, that or the cold, probably the dogs.

I'm so worred about them.

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