Is frostbite avoidable without electric heating? Should I add heat to my coop?

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I have 6 adult hens (breeds below) and an uninsulated 5x5 coop. Each and every year, at least one hen has gotten frostbite on her comb. There are no drafts in the coop, although there is airflow up top (to prevent moisture buildup). Where I live, winter temperatures typically range from an average low of 24°F to a high of 34°F. It has gone down to the teens before, especially at night. Their frost bite has never been too crazy, but I want them to be comfortable - especially my larger combed ladies. Starting this winter, I am doing the deep litter method. I guess my main questions are: Is frostbite really avoidable without a heat source when it gets below freezing, and do you guys think I should put a heat source in my coop? I wont be doing heat lamps (for safety reasons), but I could use a plate heater like a Sweeter Heater or something. Also, I have heard of people filling up plastics milk jugs with hot water and putting them in the coop - will that help? For context, this is the comment I got it from: "For emergency cold drops, fill up plastic jugs with hot water, screw on top and place in enclosed coop area. It will raise the temperature several degrees in an enclosed space." I found it on a Youtube video, that's why I want to ask about before trying it.

Breeds: Dark Brahma, Lavender and Buff Orpingtons, Gold laced Blue Wyandotte, Easter Egger, and an Olive Egger. All 3yo or younger.

 

[DobieLover]

Is frostbite really avoidable without a heat source when it gets below freezing

Absolutely.

In the seven years I've been keeping chickens every winter we've gone sub-zero at some point or another.

I've had frostbite on two males. The first time it was -23F and my single comb rooster got a mild case of frostbite dubbing. The second time was last year when a cockerel with huge wattles dunked them into the fount waterer and the ends froze. Other than that, I've had no frostbite in my flock.

I have approximately 17 sq ft of permanently open ventilation in the ridge vent, gable vents and soffit vents along with two windows cracked open away from the roosting area and two pop doors that are kept open year round. I have no insulation in my coop.

If you have adequate ventilation over your birds heads with some way for fresh air to come in down low you should not have any frostbite. Also, keep the coop is dry as possible. If you have any water source in the coop at all it needs to come out.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The fact that you're getting frostbite at 20s-30s indicates you need more ventilation, not heat. I have birds choosing to sleep next to open windows in the single digits and haven't ever had frostbite.

You mentioned doing deep litter - is that true deep litter which is a moist composting system, or did you mean deep bedding (a dry, non composting system)? Both deep litter, and adding jugs of warm water, would only increase the humidity and the temperature range at which you'd get frostbite.

 

[saysfaa]

I have 6 adult hens (breeds below) and an uninsulated 5x5 coop. .... I guess my main questions are: Is frostbite really avoidable without a heat source when it gets below freezing,

Yes. None of mine have gotten any frostbite in multiple winters with weeks straight of highs in the teens or low 20s. This is an uninsulated coop with one side completely open.

and do you guys think I should put a heat source in my coop?

No.

...Also, I have heard of people filling up plastics milk jugs with hot water and putting them in the coop - will that help?

No.

For context, this is the comment I got it from: "For emergency cold drops, fill up plastic jugs with hot water, screw on top and place in enclosed coop area. It will raise the temperature several degrees in an enclosed space." I found it on a Youtube video, that's why I want to ask about before trying it.

The "enclosed space" causes problems.

Breeds: Dark Brahma, Lavender and Buff Orpingtons, Gold laced Blue Wyandotte, Easter Egger, and an Olive Egger....

In your situation, I would take the bottom half of one side off the coop, secure it with metal lath or hardware cloth, and close the overhead vent. That would give you 10+ square feet of draft-free ventilation... a good amount. The rule of thumb is a minimum of 6 square feet for six chickens.

Or cut out the bottom foot of one side (or whatever is higher than your bedding and whatever you expect snow to be most of the time), place a board (any solid wall type thing) a few inches inside that opening, and leave the current opening as it is. The inner board should be higher than the opening to deflect the air currents up along the side of the coop instead of making a draft directly on the chickens. It will make a chimney effect. Cover the openings with hardware cloth.

I did the first option; it worked well for airflow without drafts and for keeping rain and snow out (except the first couple of inches). I have not done the second option.