New member needs help

[nevadachickens]

I agree! I

my

!
Last year a guy up the road a bit killed a bobcat in his coop. Def don't want that happening here!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. My opinion is that your chickens do not need heat. Provided with a dry draft free coop and adequate feed and water, they will overwinter fine.

 

[gander007]

A full grown chicken has a body temp of 106 F and feathers
so unless it is -20 F you have nothing to worry about other
then wind and wetness and then keeping their drinking water
from freezing so if they are out of the harsh weather every
thing should be good to go and then all you should need to
worry about is predator's .......

gander007

 

[nevadachickens]

I just bought a water warmer for them, just hooked it up, hopefully it works well. I think their run is Fort Knox so hopefully they are safe from predators! Thank you for the reply I was so worried they'd get to cooold! If it was up to me we would build them a house with central heat!

 

[chickie farmer]

If you heat the coop, they will get used to being warm. But then, if your electricity goes out, your chickens won't be used to the very cold winter which may cause problems to the chickens.

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! x2 on drumstick diva's advice, you really should train them to roost in the coop asap. Good luck!

 

[nevadachickens]

Thank you all! I've locked them up this is the third night and all but one was in there tonight! I just had to put her in and close the door! Hopefully she will get the hint that is where she has to go!

 

[kaeo]

no you don't need to give them light