please stop your chickens from freezing to death

[sdm111]

I am in south Louisiana after a week of rain we went from 70 to 50 in 12 hours then to 17 4 hours with wind chill of 7. My two flocks of 8 free range always, they roost on my concrete back porch. I do have a coop there, I do have 6 nesting boxes and 2 heat lamps for the barn cats ..I have a broody with 9 eggs out there.i thought about bringing her in, but she's an oeg bantam and normally my pet, but she wants nothing to do,attacks people, cats,her flock if they get close..so we deep bedded the area around her box have a heat lamp aimed at the edge ( they are chained up and on a breaker plug) the older flock huddled together on the normal roost and was out free ranging by 530 am, an hour later than normal..the young flock was out eating by 430.. they had a well protected area but chose a different place a 6 inch tall space blocked on 3 1/2 sides
I kept plenty of water..I watched them break ice in the ruts to my pasture little weirdos

A breaker will only work if it senses a fault in the wiring, a short circuit, it will not detect if the light falls on a combustible and the heat from the bulb ignites it. It appears most of the fires you speak of start by a falling light not a short circuit. If you do use an extension cord make sure its at least 14ga. Preferably 12ga.
And I know you said you chained yours up. I'm not advising you I'm advising everyone that is going to read this

 

[Mama_Arty]

I live in Central PA, so it's not as cold as NH or Northern Ontario. That said, we do get to -10 or -15 for night time lows. My coop is not insulated, it is well ventilated and dry though and not that much warmer than ambient air temperature. I know people around me that house their birds in even less without trouble. I am of the mind that adding heat only sets them up for disaster. They won't feather out and won't be able to withstand low temperatures w/o extra heat. By all means people should provide their birds with rudimentary shelter to get out of the wind and elements, but their down and feathers are designed to be used as personal insulation. When they fluff up, they draw air into their feathers which is warmed and acts as insulation. Provided their coop is dry, well ventilated and that the birds are cold-hardy breeds they should be good to relatively low temperatures. People have kept chickens for centuries in all sorts of cold regions, Sweden, Norway, Russia, Alaska, etc. and before they were able to provide additional heat for them to boot. I think it is important to "rediscover" the information that was learned years ago about poultry/livestock success and not get too carried away with modern convenience. That said, I do use a heated do bowl. That's for my convenience. I just don't want to have to haul water out there 3-4 times a day..

I agree with you on the insulation
We have insulation in our coop (it's a nice wooden shed I had custom built for them) there is a fan for ventilation at the top but I really think the insulation is a waste. It just traps in moisture. I may remove it. Negative Temps be darned.

 

[Ponyiqandhens2]

Such drastic changes in temp are indeed a concern! I will have to look into the breaker plug--I'd not heard of that before.

You know the outlets for bathrooms so you don't kill yourself supposedly we have an outdoor one that we have a good,small power strip designed for outdoors my dogs and cats heat lampsare on it. I know they both trip because I had a horse get loose and pulled one down shattering the light and everything tripped instantly.. that's when I started chaining but good to know they will trip

 

[Ponyiqandhens2]

A breaker will only work if it senses a fault in the wiring, a short circuit, it will not detect if the light falls on a combustible and the heat from the bulb ignites it. It appears most of the fires you speak of start by a falling light not a short circuit. If you do use an extension cord make sure its at least 14ga. Preferably 12ga.
And I know you said you chained yours up. I'm not advising you I'm advising everyone that is going to read this

I know we use heavy duty extensions like used for outdoor concerts ( in my much younger days I worked on the electric/ lighting crews for concerts) on concrete and not in coops, one run to my dogs kennel ( can't be inside dog aggressive and doesn't like cats ) and then one aimed at a cat carrier which is the one that hits the edge of the nesting box if it were to fall it will land on concrete with no bedding the 2nd set up for the cats is attached to a refrigerator that is also chained closed ( doesn't work don't want some neighbor kid to climb in so..and light is chained with chains I use to hang horse buckets.. it's all concrete and brick..bedding is in nesting boxes and coop no one uses but could

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I have heaters on for my girls tonight (northeast PA) because this temp change is so drastic. Last year I finally found a supplemental heat that I am thrilled with and is supposed to be very safe. They are carbon fiber heaters. I purchased 2 of the 600 watt ones and they keep the barn 15-20 degrees warmer than outside. It’s not a lot, which is good because I want them to be tough in case of power outages, but it’s enough to ease my worry and hopefully make them more comfortable. I still have a hen that is half naked from molting! I adore my chickens and will do anything to spoil them. Like you, it’s not just about them freezing to death… I don’t want ANYTHING to happen to them! I don’t even want the innocent little creatures to feel terrible cold. Anyways, I got the heaters at Premier1supplies if you want to look into them for later. They also sell much safer heat lamps, but I haven’t tried those. Hope your flock does well these next couple of cold days!

Not everyone has electricity In their coops. Or can afford several heaters for their set up

 

[sdm111]

I know we use heavy duty extensions like used for outdoor concerts ( in my much younger days I worked on the electric/ lighting crews for concerts) on concrete and not in coops, one run to my dogs kennel ( can't be inside dog aggressive and doesn't like cats ) and then one aimed at a cat carrier which is the one that hits the edge of the nesting box if it were to fall it will land on concrete with no bedding the 2nd set up for the cats is attached to a refrigerator that is also chained closed ( doesn't work don't want some neighbor kid to climb in so..and light is chained with chains I use to hang horse buckets.. it's all concrete and brick..bedding is in nesting boxes and coop no one uses but could

Good. I was just responding because alot of folks aren't thinking of what could happen and just hastily put something together and can have disastrous results.

 

[sdm111]

Not everyone has electricity In their coops. Or can afford several heaters for their set up

And that's the person my PSA is aimed at

 

[sdm111]

You know the outlets for bathrooms so you don't kill yourself supposedly we have an outdoor one that we have a good,small power strip designed for outdoors my dogs and cats heat lampsare on it. I know they both trip because I had a horse get loose and pulled one down shattering the light and everything tripped instantly.. that's when I started chaining but good to know they will trip

Shattering the light would cause a fault which is what the strip is designed to detect and tripped as designed. If it would have fallen and the bulb not broke and landed on something and ignited it, it would not have tripped. Well it would have but far too late when it was involved in the subsequent fire

 

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

Not everyone has electricity In their coops. Or can afford several heaters for their set up

Of course they don't, but if someone does have it, and wants to supplement with heat, then there is a safe option. My husband also installed outlets on the ceiling of the barn specifically for the heaters so no extension cord is needed. The heaters are hung by a very tightly secured chain. I do realize that we go way overboard, but my chickens are my beloved pets, and no amount of expense (or research for that matter!) is spared for them. Everyone's set up is different. I can only offer suggestions for those that have electric. I didn't use to have it and it was impossible to spoil my chickens to the degree that I wanted to. I just hope everyone's chickens are safe no matter what set up they have!

 

[Ponyiqandhens2]

Shattering the light would cause a fault which is what the strip is designed to detect and tripped as designed. If it would have fallen and the bulb not broke and landed on something and ignited it, it would not have tripped. Well it would have but far too late when it was involved in the subsequent fire

Except for me unless electrical fire concrete and bricks as there is no bedding except in nesting boxes and coop..coop is 6 feet away, nesting boxes are on elevated platform located where they can not fall.. unless we have a hurricane or tornado... or straight line wind shears ... ihave a broody in a nesting box ..the light is aimed at about a 45-50 degree angle away from her,she is catching the edge of the light.. I am 51 almost 52 been foaling out mares and working with rehab sick horses for many years..we use them carefully when necessary in the barns..never first choice but newborn foal still wet. We chain them high and use cords rated well above necessary on high rated power straps they are turned off during the day unless absolutely necessary..I understand the risks and dangers and as I have said my birds are not in coops or runs theyroost where they choose at night ...under my porch.the lights are not for them but the barn cats thelights if they fell would be on concrete. No bedding