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

[TaLani]

We did want to put a little heat source of some sort in our coop even though everyone says we don't need it. I don't know how much heat it actually puts out for them, but at least it made me feel better anyway knowing that they aren't totally w/o heat. I do need to hook up our base heater for the waterer tonight though.

Below is the link to what we bought.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200310679_200310679

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
If they're fully feathered, you shouldn't have to worry too much... just keep an eye on them. I have some EE chicks in a brooder in the garage... I turned the light off last week, and as of today they are 6 weeks old and just about fully feathered. I'm probably going to turn them loose in the coop sometime in the next week. It's -2.6° outside right now, but 21°F in the coop. They'll have access to the heat lamp on the waterer, and a dry place to huddle if they get really cold, but I need to get them used to the cold quick if they're going to survive our winter.

 

[FingerLakesChick]

I live in upstate NY and it's cold! I used a couple heat lamps last year and had a near fatal accident with one so I'll never use another heat lamp again! It actually got knocked off it's hook and hung by its cord over a 2x4 perch and burned a hole right straight through it! When I opened the door the next morning and smelled that burned wood and smoke I just about had a stroke. So I threw both of those lamps out of the coop and bought a little radiator style oil filled heater. This little heater is awesome and it cost about $60 I think. It has a timer so it can alternate from on to off as I choose and it also has a thermostat. It makes it nice and toasty in the coop at night . Honestly I don't think they really need it - it just makes me feel better. It does keep the water thawed and me from freezing (especially when I'm out there at 6:00 in the morning), burrrrrrrrrr!! It's not on during the day - yet. But probably will be before long to keep the water from freezing and me from worrying. By that time, the girls won't want to go outside anyway - they're afraid of snow, so their run door will be closed. I think it also keeps the humidity down. This is a very stable and heavy heater. I don't worry about the chickens knocking it over or getting burned by it . I have it on a wood pallet that is topped with cinder blocks.

That's just my two cents. Good luck and try not to worry - Yeah right! Like I won't worry either.

 

[LocoPollo]

I was worried a bit last night too. Freezing weather is a big deal down here in the south (nope, we just can't handle it!) and I wasn't sure if my chickens would be as unhappy about it as me. Of course, they are all fine, even the little seven week olds. Nothing to worry about, it seems. Even their water thawed by midday.

 

[Mrs MIA]

The less heat you have to give them, the better off they will be.

 

[blueskylen]

I can't help worrying about my girls too, so I put one heat lamp over their metal waterer that kind of shines on the roost a bit. I have trouble sleeping if I think any of the animals are cold and miserable.

i figure if it is below freezing , i still want them to have some water to drink, and i don't want to have to go out every couple of hours to chip it out for them.

 

[apukanski]

I always think my chickens are freezing. Until I open the door and they come out in 32 degrees and hang outside for hours at a time.

 

[apukanski]

I bought an extra water container to switch when it gets cold. I take the frozen one in the house to thaw. Its a time saver.

 

[dixiechick]

I am in Florida and we have an open-air coop...I did bring my birds into the garage last night and tonight in carrying cages (just because I worry)...

...my mom (who hates animals--period!) brought her Old English roo (Clyde) INSIDE the house!!!

At 4am, Clyde starts crowing his head off!

They make a perfect odd couple!

 

[tykris99]

Quote:
I do the same thing for my rabbits as well and have never had a problem thus far. I have to convince my hens to go in the coop instead of roosting on top of it now that the cold weather is here though