I'm about to give up on chickens

[NaperLix]

A cozy coop panel heater can keep them warm and help dry air.I do not have excessive ventilation,have never had a problem,in many years.Zero degrees I don’t let much cold air in.Also however,small number of hens,2-4 in each coop.I also keep a hygrometer,2 thermometers,smoke alarm,I each coop.
I use many panels at once.A small coop ,one should be a big help.Only 200 watts.Very safe.I leave on all winter,almost.
your chickens will love it.

 

[lifein1840]

Can I even though she was frozen pretty solid??? Unfortunately at this point that isn't a financial possibility but I'll keep it in mind....

Do you have an agricultural college near you? Or check with your local 4-H group if you folks have that. Barring that, check with your feed store and see if they can help you find an inexpensive option.

 

[JacksonChickies]

Do you have an agricultural college near you? Or check with your local 4-H group if you folks have that. Barring that, check with your feed store and see if they can help you find an inexpensive option.

I never would have thought of 4h or the college. I'll keep it in mind if it happens again

 

[TheAunties]

I'll attach a photo, our coop is 4x3 with 3ft high walls over a 3x8 run. I have one roost at top wall height and 3 1ft² nesting boxes inside above the cleaning doors you see on the sides. We've sealed the windows on either end for winter and have enough bedding in it to cover the cleaning doors along the bottom. We have been bringing the water in overnight when we close the coop and swapping it at least once a day. I was running errands all day today and didn't have a chance to refresh the water today so it did have a skim of ice on top by 430

We hav eth same size coop for 12 hens and they like to snuggle up together. When we have a lower number we fill some of the space with wooden blocks or hard foam blocks. That coop is a big area for 1 or 2 hens to keep warm in. But they do die of all sorts of things. Our farm taught us to check their crop near bedtime, it should feel full. If the are going to bed empty (maybe they didnt like the grain or another hen bullied them away from it) they might not make the night. In cold weather I give ours warm porridge or feed mash before bedtime

 

[JacksonChickies]

We hav eth same size coop for 12 hens and they like to snuggle up together. When we have a lower number we fill some of the space with wooden blocks or hard foam blocks. That coop is a big area for 1 or 2 hens to keep warm in. But they do die of all sorts of things. Our farm taught us to check their crop near bedtime, it should feel full. If the are going to bed empty (maybe they didnt like the grain or another hen bullied them away from it) they might not make the night. In cold weather I give ours warm porridge or feed mash before bedtime

Really!?!? Wow!! These two hens were pretty well established together, they were hatchmates and super close so I'd be surprised if hunger was the issue. But I will keep it in mind with my new hen. She's integrated well so far but I'm cautiously optimistic. The feed mash, is it just feed and warm water???

 

[JacksonChickies]

Since we haven't gotten any eggs yet, I was concerned about a compaction or something....is that a possibility?? Should I be really concerned they aren't laying yet??

 

[aart]

We hav eth same size coop for 12 hens and they like to snuggle up together. When we have a lower number we fill some of the space with wooden blocks or hard foam blocks. That coop is a big area for 1 or 2 hens to keep warm in

Chickens feathers keep them warm.
Lots of space and ventilation is key to good coop health.

 

[3KillerBs]

That coop is a big area for 1 or 2 hens to keep warm in.

The coop does not need to be kept warm.

We keep our chickens dry and out of the wind and they keep themselves warm with their built-in down parkas.

 

[ro ro]

you could give them a corner room with a incondecent lightbulb or a chick heat lamp to help close off the vented roof eave in corner area or build a removable box with the light in it and a shredded fabric door ----- just a thought

 

[JacksonChickies]

We did just install both an led and a heat bulb in the coop to prep for winter. The white light has been on the last few days, 12 hrs a day but the heat bulb hasn't been since it's only about 3°C and I dint want them to overheat