Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[snowflake]

so, we are headed for some VERY cold temps, going to give hens some extra BOS thought maybe some corn for extra heat. I only have frozen corn but thought it should work. lllll
extra wood shavings on the floor, to help insulate a little more.

 

[Sally PB]

A friend with chickens says he uses an infrared lizard light (whatever that is) to warm the coop in the ultra frigid temps. Does anyone use something like that? Is a low of 0 F cold enough to warrant some heat in the coop, or not? I'm confident of enough ventilation, and I don't put any water in the coop. There's about 4-5" of pine shavings and hemp on the floor.

My cockerel has some frostbite on his long floppily doppily wattles, and maybe a bit on a point or two on his comb. The girls' combs and wattles are all fine.

I was thinking of taking some water out to the coop on the day it's supposed to be a high of about 9F. Their food is in the coop, and a heated bowl of water is out in the run. Maybe leaving the pop door closed and putting some water inside so they can stay in...? Nervous chicken mom stressing about her fluffbutts during their first winter, what can I say?

Thoughts? Opinions?

 

[Folly's place]

Keep their ventilation as it is, as long as it's nearly at ambient levels. No condensation in the coop! I have waterers in the coop area, so the heaters don't have to work as hard, and no extension cords.
Birds with big single combs and wattles will have some frostbite when it's very cold, a reason why my roosters aren't built that way!
Be very careful if you do decide to add heating, because it's dangerous out there. And what if your power goes out?
It has been pretty mild until now, and still, no -20F predicted either. Wonderful!
What does @1muttsfan do in the UP?
Mary

 

[Sally PB]

I've never seen any condensation in the coop, thank goodness.

Yeah, the worry over the fire danger is what concerns me the most. Hubby says he can secure the lizard light so he "doesn't think it will fall." Ummmm....

The cockerel got frostbite from drinking out of the open bowl waterer. It's raised about 6-8", but his wattles are pretty long and droopy, so I'm not surprised they've gotten wet.

 

[aart]

Chooks got a special treat today.
Electrolytes/Vitamins soaked up into some rolled oats.
Will bolster them for the coming very cold weather.

 

[1muttsfan]

No added heat, just a good draft-free coop with thick layer of bedding that has built up over the summer. If the wind is blowing from the north, in through the pop door, I close it at night, but the window on the south side is always at least cracked at the top for ventilation. I have a metal double walled waterer inside the coop on a heated base - and NOT a homemade one, fire danger is too much for me. The last one I bought lasted 9 years, and at around 45 dollars it is well worth it.

Remember if your birds get used to heat, and the power goes out, they may have trouble. Chickens have dense feathers and an internal temperature of 106 degrees, so they can keep themselves warm given good housing and proper feeding.

IF you do use a light or heat source, for increased laying or whatever, then make sure it is
1. Out of reach - that means chickens flying off the roost won't hit it
2. Secured in at least 2 ways, and not with plastic, string or other flammable/meltable material - use metal wire or chain, and attach 2 different ties to 2 different places on the lamp

I avoid large comb and wattled breeds up here. Mostly pea combs or smaller regular combs.

 

[Folly's place]

Excellent advice as usual! We don't heat our coop either, and it's been fine. We use the same waterers, two of them for our forty birds. and good upper ventilation. I open the big south door unless it's actually snowing hard.
And when we use a heat lamp anywhere, it's triple secured with chain to a fixed upper attachment. Never use that snap type thingie that some have, useless.
Premier1supplies has a very good heat lamp that has a cage for the light, so the bulb can't fall out of the holder and land in the bedding. Much safer!
Mary

 

[aart]

I don't use heat either.
Water heater and light is 'safe'.

 

[snowflake]

I don't use heat either, my heated water dish (heated dog dish) and a heated hanging chicken water, and food all outside. I did stuff the space above and below my window to help keep it more draft free and maybe a little warmer. poop door is left open.
I will give some BOS before they roost up in the evening. I also have gone to hens with small comes. No rooster's right now.

 

[Folly's place]

Notice rooster with very small comb, Chantecler. No frostbitten combs or wattles, ever!
Mary