It's going to be in the 20's tonight, and I'm worried sick...

[Granolamom]

Renee, thanks for the response! Actually, mine are BR's, as well, and they are definitely fluff balls. What exactly is a flat heater, and where would you get one? (just in case I can't stop worrying about it...)

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Don't be too worried, it's -6 out right now, and it was blowing a gail earlier with the snow and everything, and my girls are fine. I just started giving them some corn for the especially cold days, otherwise it's open goes the chicken door, and they are free to go out if they want, I have their roost to the left of the door (both front and chicken hatch), off the ground, and I'll be giving them a wind break for the chicken door tomorrow, and I use their feed bins as the wind break for the front door...

... yeah I'm still working on the door stop, and weatherstripping, plus I still have to film their windows. Don't be worried!

 

[Mrs MIA]

We all worry too much... we are in the -10 to +10°F range now, and the girls still sleep outside on their own accord. I shove them all in the coop, but there are still a few that pop back out. All I have is a heat lamp on the waterer to keep it from freezing, but soon that will be replaced with a heated dog dish. A dry, draft free coop is all you need.

Don't worry... truly, if you've let them acclimate to the colder temps naturally, they will do just fine.

 

[ChooksChick]

Actually, the site I saw them on is

http://www.shopthecoop.com/id82.html

and I think that's the only place I've see them...I'm about to order one, too, just because I'm a fretful momma hen...but I think it's to make me more comfortable knowing they are out there, rather than out of a real fear for the silly clowns!

 

[Granolamom]

Thank you guys, I really appreciate you answers! I think I can go to bed without worrying myself to death tonight (and possibly sneaking out to the coop at 3 am, to make sure I don't have frozen chickens stuck to the roost...).

 

[Mrs MIA]

You shouldn't.

I was grateful that I didn't add heat, because we had power outages the other night. We have them all the time, either from the wind or unlucky motorists that take out electrical poles. I don't want to have to run around in a blizzard trying to get heat to them if that happens.
We just culled some birds this weekend, and they had so much extra down on them, it was crazy. They really can handle it.

 

[Momma_Cluck]

Even though our 12x14 "Coop" is VERY well insulated, tho a few drafts around the windows (used to be an office) I still worried, since here in MI it gets VERY cold-- so I put 2 heat lamps in there----
all you need is an industrial drop-cord (a real thick heavy extension cord-- at Lowes/Home Depot for around $20 for 50-feet) a clamp-light ($8 at Walmart) and one heat Lamp bulb (Also around $8 at Walmart)

Today when it was snowing like heck and the outside temps were 21f with a windchill factor of 10f, our coop was 60f!!!!!!

 

[Pinky]

I live in Georgia too, and my chickens are just fine in the cool weather.I think it helps to have alot of hay to keep them warm.

 

[tygab]

Well, it hadn't gotten really cold until this week, and the temps at night are now in the teens. We have some arctic air parked over us. I like others have been worrying.... We don't have an insulated coop but there is a heater block for the water. However, we got cold hardy breeds and everyone around here says they should be fine.

This morning they seemed their bright usual chipper selves. I hope this means they are coping well. But they sure do eat more now!

 

[debilorrah]

Oh don't worry. People in Alaska have chickens. Seriously, don't worry. If they are fully feathered they can weather the storm, so to speak.