Puffed up is a bad thing?

[Qi Chicken]

I just read on someone else's thread that their roo was all puffed up in the cold weather and s/he was worried. Mine are always puffed at night and I thought it was their way of keeping warm. Does this mean they are not tolerating the cold well? It has been near 0 at night and 20's in the day. They won't go outside as there is a little bit of snow although I try to get them to. I do not have a heat lamp in there. I tried their red brooder light and it seemed to keep them up. They would be walking around at 10 pm. so I turned it off. They haven't had it for awhile.

 

[LarryPQ]

What people are saying is their chicken remains puffed up, even when it is wake up time. Usually the chickens is lethargic, bleary-eyed, and really not in the mood to socialize.

These "puffed up" chickens are having a hard time regulating their body-temps; usually due to illness. Kinda like when you get a fever and need a blanket to stay warm.

 

[ScissorChick]

When they puff up, it helps them gain heat. It doesn't always mean they

are sick. My birds puff up at night-time, and on the colder days.