Keeping warm in winter

[saysfaa]

I've been thinking more about this too.

Partly because my hens are molting. I've been collecting their feathers. The differences in feather types is interesting. But I don't have any warm adapted breeds or individuals to compare them to.

Do all chickens have double feathers? A lot of the feathers have what looks like two complete feathers on one shaft (quill?). One is clearly all down. The other is less clear, it is somewhat downy on the shaft end and less so on the tip end.

 

[saysfaa]

I would be very interested for a link to a study of any cold hardy chickens that have undergone biological changes if you have a link.

I'm not who you asked but I found this. Link to the study

The researchers looked at the gene pool of two cold adapted breeds, which have not been under intensive selection pressure ... to identify key candidate genes associated with the adaptation of chickens to cold environments

They found 12 genes "... associated with lipid metabolism, maintaining body temperature in cold environments, non-shivering thermogenesis and muscle development and are perspectives for further research...."

 

[Shadrach]

I'm not who you asked but I found this. Link to the study

The researchers looked at the gene pool of two cold adapted breeds, which have not been under intensive selection pressure ... to identify key candidate genes associated with the adaptation of chickens to cold environments

They found 12 genes "... associated with lipid metabolism, maintaining body temperature in cold environments, non-shivering thermogenesis and muscle development and are perspectives for further research...."

Great. Thank you very much. I'll have a read.

 

[Cooncerned]

Integrating/separating chickens is the hardest part of raising them for me. Of my chickens (all the same age) only one went "molt naked". So when she became 'different,' her sisters began to gang up and attack, so I separated her until her feathers grew back in. I just added her back, but watch her closely and have plenty of places for her to hide from her 'frenemies.' To me the inconvenience of keeping chickens separated whether for bullying, quarantine, age, etc. is worth the trouble. I cannot lie down and be at peace at night if am worried about the little dummies killing each other and that I need to figure out how to intervene.
I gave some chickens to friends who (against my advice) mistakenly chose to add them all to their coop the same day because they all "seemed to like each other." They discovered a coop full of dead chickens next day. They did not heed my advice and were practically traumatized by the bloody slaughter.
I get laughed at for naming my chickens, etc., but most people do not get it that chickens are my emotional support animals, in lieu of a therapy dog. and....don't chickens have feelings, too? hahaha

 

[saysfaa]

....

Do all chickens have double feathers? A lot of the feathers have what looks like two complete feathers on one shaft (quill?). One is clearly all down. The other is less clear, it is somewhat downy on the shaft end and less so on the tip end.

Evidently what I called a double feather is an after feather.

Does anyone with warm adapted chickens know if they looked similar is size and fluff to the black feathers? It was hard to get a good picture but these feathers have after feathers that are about the middle of the range of size and fluffiness of Coco's (or Pepper's or Mocha's, I didn't see them fall off).

It is also interesting to gather a bucketful of feathers and stick your hand in the middle of it for several minutes.

 

[Quadzilla32]

I'm in the stetson hills area. My first year too. I have an Isa Brown, Australorp and olive egger. I did cover any open areas around doors. I am nervous for tonight but they seem fine from the cold the last 24 hours.
What breed are your chickens

I have a couple eggers mixers and a polish. So far the birds have made it through the night so far so good. Ive checked on them each night and they are all huddled together on the roosting bars just hanging out.

Chicken math has gotten me and plan to get another egger and a GLW this week. We had a prairie bluebell who was our biggest, most friendliest, and most mature bird but believe she got egg bound and passed away last week sadly. She had laid several soft shell/ no shell eggs right before fall then started to molt and stopped. We went out of town for ONE day and came back and she was in her laying spot deceased.

 

[saysfaa]

Great. Thank you very much. I'll have a read.

I found one of the references to that study interesting. This one

I need more chemistry and/or physiology to understand much what they say about how it works but I understood what they say about it:

It is known that moving muscles generates heat. That is what shivering does. It is also know that heat is generated in the muscles in other ways. It is known that brown fat has something to do with it in mammals. This study is about a third way that is likely to be how mammals generate heat in muscles.

So far, this third way has been proven to be a way mammals generate heat - only in mice so far, and only recently.

The researchers find it interesting that birds have a slightly different version of the third way.

They conclude with, "Furthermore, we argue that, in contrast to small mammals, muscle NST [NST is NonShivering Thermogenesis] is sufficient to maintain high body temperature in birds, which have enhanced capacities to fuel muscle NST by high rates of fatty acid import."

 

[saysfaa]

I found one of the references to that study interesting. This one
...

The mechanism of the third way is
"based on Ca2+-slippage by a sarcoplasmatic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) and is controlled by the protein sarcolipin."

I think that means a calcium bond is broken to release heat. It happens in the reticulum (that is a structure inside cells). There is an enzyme (many names ending in "ase" mean it is an enzyme) that makes the bond break. The enzyme or the activity of the enzyme is controlled by a different protein.

Generally, genes control the presence of enzymes and other proteins, and their abundance or lack of abundance. And, for some kinds of enzymes and other proteins, genes control how sensitive the body is to signals to make those kinds at all or in greater amounts.

 

[Lilbitsnpieces]

Integrating/separating chickens is the hardest part of raising them for me. Of my chickens (all the same age) only one went "molt naked". So when she became 'different,' her sisters began to gang up and attack, so I separated her until her feathers grew back in. I just added her back, but watch her closely and have plenty of places for her to hide from her 'frenemies.' To me the inconvenience of keeping chickens separated whether for bullying, quarantine, age, etc. is worth the trouble. I cannot lie down and be at peace at night if am worried about the little dummies killing each other and that I need to figure out how to intervene.
I gave some chickens to friends who (against my advice) mistakenly chose to add them all to their coop the same day because they all "seemed to like each other." They discovered a coop full of dead chickens next day. They did not heed my advice and were practically traumatized by the bloody slaughter.
I get laughed at for naming my chickens, etc., but most people do not get it that chickens are my emotional support animals, in lieu of a therapy dog. and....don't chickens have feelings, too? hahaha

So sad that they didn't listen..I don't give any animals away for this reason..what a horrible experience for them and you. Hopefully they learned it always advisable to err on the side of caution. I have many birds "dumped" on my place..but I always put the animals first..I have six different pens and flocks plus a nursery as many came here injured..intergration is paramount to the health of the flock ...Yes it's ton of work ..on a good day I'm done in 2 hours..in am and pm and then the couple times a day to check. However if one takes on the responsibility of animals then it should be a serious undertaking not an after thought.....

 

[Bella Dominique]

I am a new chicken mom. Three hens small coop, it's a bunny hutch, but I double insulated it with styrofoam and some foil bubble wrap that this forum member recommended. I live in Colorado Springs. It is going to be 5 degrees tomorrow night. I have a temp reader in the coop. It consistently reads 10 degrees warmer than outside. I have a large box in the house just in case I need to bring them inside. I put Vaseline on their feet and combs. What temp would you recommend bring them inside?

A lot of people don’t use Vaseline. I know when I put it on my chapped hands and go outside in the cold it makes me feel colder. Might just be me but you might try it on your own skin and see if you have the same results as I did.