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

[2 Acres]

Well this is Great. My wonderful unreliable power company just lost power. This is getting old.

Just when I was going to pay my bill.

 

[2 Acres]

Time to contact the PUCO

 

[Ardella Crawford]

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.

Yes, frostbite is avoidable with no heat source. I use the deep litter method, and the only time I worry about frostbite at all is if temps go subzero, especially if there's wind. If I think the chickens may have frostbite because of the cold, I put the homeopathic remedy Agaricus muscarius in their water for a day or two, 6c or 30c, either one should work. There is plenty of ventilation in their houses, but I use tarps and straw bales for shelter from wind in the winter. I take the tarps down and remove the straw bales for spring, summer, and fall. I add fresh shavings frequently in the winter to keep the dampness down.

 

[Ardella Crawford]

Yes, frostbite is avoidable with no heat source. I use the deep litter method, and the only time I worry about frostbite at all is if temps go subzero, especially if there's wind. If I think the chickens may have frostbite because of the cold, I put the homeopathic remedy Agaricus muscarius in their water for a day or two, 6c or 30c, either one should work. There is plenty of ventilation in their houses, but I use tarps and straw bales for shelter from wind in the winter. I take the tarps down and remove the straw bales for spring, summer, and fall. I add fresh shavings frequently in the winter to keep the dampness down.

 

[2 Acres]

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.
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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.

About the water, can I ask why?

 

[DobieLover]

About the water, can I ask why?

Because it dumps water vapor into the air increasing humidity and the chances of frostbite increases dramatically.

I keep my heated water out in the covered run.

 

[2 Acres]

Because it dumps water vapor into the air increasing humidity and the chances of frostbite increases dramatically.

I keep my heated water out in the covered run.

Thank you.