I saw the neatest idea on the Peafowl website!

[Whispering Winds]

Would it work to take a flat roosting board, put a heat tape on it, secure it with proper tape, then wrap a very dense carpet over it, something that is easily replaced after awhile, for cold cold winter nights? Or would that be detrimental to their health, and possibly dangerous? I thought it looked like the neatest way to keep their little tooties warm.

 

[Lesa]

You shouldn't need anything like that. Make sure your roosting area is flat (2x4 etc) and their own feathers will keep their feet warm. Watch them when they are roosting and you will see what I mean. You can't even see their feet! If your coop is insulated and you have enough chickens they will be fine. If you have a few hours to kill search the subject! Come fall, people will be talking of nothing else!

 

[patandchickens]

Feathers and their own body heat, coupled with a decently wide roost, do a perfectly FINE job of keeping chicken toes warm

It may be that if a person's growing peafowl in a northern climate, the safety and hygeine issues involved in the heated roost concept are acceptible because otherwise you couldn't *have* peafowl there... but I truly see zero point in it for *chickens*.

JMHO,

Pat

 

[deerman]

I raise peafowl, dont need the heated roosted except for the greens peafowl or high % green. Yes its nice and only heat when temps. gets down to freezing.

 

[Whispering Winds]

Quote:
So, the greens are more easily chilled? I know chickens set on their legs, I had roosters when I was a kid, but they also got their toes froze and their combs one severely cold winter we had, so it just made me think when I saw that idea . . .thanks for the answers everyone!!!!