Lousy flock?

[chickens really]

Definitely depends on the Coop and how well it's built? Coldest winter temps?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thanks for bringing up another concern of having a small flock. I live in Indiana & winters can be mild or brutal. My coop is very small but with only 2 birds I don't see them generating too much heat.

I live in Central California, so it's never very cold, but I've read that you can add supplemental heat - just gotta safeguard against fire danger as much as possible. And many have insulated coops. But if your coop is small, they probably manage ok.

 

[townchicks]

Thank you. I am concerned about upsetting the apple cart as they seem quite happy

So you have the exact same coop I started with. In the interest of full disclosure, with that coop, adding my 3rd girl did sort of upset the applecart. It took a while after they were comfortable in the yard together for them to let the new hen into the coop at night. ( she slept in a rabbit hutch meanwhile) After about a week of her attempts to roost with them, they gave in and let her in. BUT then Agatha (the one I lost this summer) started sleeping in the nest box. Not that big of a deal to me, really, but I figured that was a sign that the girls felt too constricted. So I built a bigger coop, still small, but they liked it and were happy. Of course, then I had to build a new run, so I went as big as I could manage by myself (120 sf). So room to add more chickens. But I kept the clubhouse coop, and when I added the new pullets, it was perfect for first, quarantine on my patio, away from my big girls, and then moved it in the chicken yard adjacent to the run, for "look but don't touch" introduction. The three girls I've added still sleep happily snuggled together in the clubhouse, as they all grew up together. So, three could be done, it all depends on your individual hens.

 

[chickens really]

Yes...I'm in central Alberta Canada and already -2C here and we get to -30C during winter. I run heat for my Birds all winter.

 

[slordaz]

If your there it's not too likely to happen..

hawks will swoop down on them and can injure them even if you are there, your just more likely to be able to to shoo it off or get it to drop the hen but as they use the talons to grab them, you had better have stuff for critical care on hand

 

[2hotchicks]

Definitely depends on the Coop and how well it's built? Coldest winter temps?

It is wood & I have added weatherstripping to gaps that will allow a draft & insulation to walls & roof line. I have a flat panel radiant heater. Lows here can be a few degrees below zero in winter. We've had a few 48 degree nights recently & I was disappointed the coop doesn't appear to be holding any heat, coop temp same as outdoor temp (without running the heater)

 

[chickens really]

Oh my then I guess everyone should keep their Chickens in jail because of predators that may or may not come?

 

[2hotchicks]

hawks will swoop down on them and can injure them even if you are there, your just more likely to be able to to shoo it off or get it to drop the hen but as they use the talons to grab them, you had better have stuff for critical care on hand

That does not sound like fun. We have a resident red tail hawk so I think I'll keep dragging the "playpen" around.

 

[townchicks]

My coop is very small but with only 2 birds I don't see them generating too much heat.

They wear down coats, they don't really need to generate heat to warm the coop. In fact, you don't want them losing body heat. I would NOT try to heat that small coop, that could be very dangerous. I live where we don't really have bad winter temps, but one thing you might do is add a blanket over the top of the roof for insulation. Or, that might make it to heavy with snow, IDK. But do not close the vents all the way, unless snow is blowing in, then close the vent only on the side it's coming in from. They NEED ventilation in winter. I never close my vents, although as I said, we only get to low thirties here.

 

[slordaz]

Oh my then I guess everyone should keep their Chickens in jail because of predators that may or may not come?

no I was just correcting where you stated they don't bother them if you are out there, so they have correct expectations. another option is netting over top to keep them safe but not restricted if possible where they are running out free or make a tractor that has wheels for easier moving it around with less dragging. Also adding lots of hiding places they can get under all around free range area helps so they can have a better chance of getting away from an aerial attack. the hawks and eagles have given up on trying to get my hens and pullets thanks to this