re: winter & chickens

[tilliebaker]

Hi...have had my 3 hens for about a month and a half..I'm wondering if anyone knows if they can survive the winter monthes without heat (I have no electricity for the coop). I live in massachusetts. thanks ;

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

I am in the south so I don't think we have as frigid winters but our coldest gets around 26 F. I don't have any heating hooked up for mine and they free range out in it like nothing is wrong. I haven't ever had any trouble with mine and winter. Even my hens lay eggs and hatch out biddies.

 

[morelcabin]

They'll be fine...mine have no heat either...well when it gets to -32C I run an extension with a heat lamp, but I doubt you'll get it that bad where you are. We rarely get it but this last winter was a really cold one!

 

[CoopCrazy]

Make sure you don't have any drafts in your coop ( ventilation but not drafts) use a 2x4 flat side as thier roost so there lil toes dont get frost bite, vaseline on their combs and wattles (to keep from getting frostbite and you should be fine.. you'd be suprised at how warm a coop gets with all their body heat

ETA

 

[rooster0209]

I dont have heat in my coop either. The chickens and guineas handle the winter well in ND. A draft free coop is all they need

I use 2x4 roosts so they dont freeze their feet & put straw on the floor (deep litter method). Even with the cold winter last year, the roosters didnt have any frostbite

 

[lalaland]

also depends on what sort of breeds you have - silkies, for example, won't fare very well. Heavy breeds handle the cold the best. Banties, well they might need a little help.

definitely take the advice about the larger, flat roosts - 2x4's - so they sit on their feet, covering them with their feathers and keep them from freezing. Really cold below zero weather, grease their combs and wattles with petroleum jelly to protect against frostbite.

you can give them feed that is higher in fat to help their bodies produce warmth - so cracked corn an hour before dusk is a great idea.

If you fret about the cold, try sticking your bare fingers under their feathers - their warmth will reassure you. they are wearing down jackets!

 

[CityChook]

If you're not going to use heat, then definitely insulate the walls and the ceiling. Seal up all the cracks and doors so that there is NO DRAFT. With insulation comes the need for good ventilation.

Three chickens will not create much body heat (like a larger flock will) so you're going to need to really monitor their environment.

Just wondering: If you don't have access to electricity, then how are you going to keep their water thawed?

 

[tilliebaker]

My coop is small....an old rabbit hutch we converted...There are nesting boxes but no roost...the ladies usually hang outside and just sleep at night. The hutch is about 3 fee high..should I put a roost in there. As for the water in the winter I was just going to change it 2 or 3 times or come up with some heated disk I can put inside it to keep the water warm longer. I manage with my rabbits. I'm just concerned about the warmth. I was thinking of putting in a wood floor (right now it's vinyl siding and hay) and putting rigid insulation under that but am concerned about cleaning it. Any recommendations.

 

[Brindlebtch]

We put in a thick wood floor and then glued cheap vinyl flooring over that. It cleans pretty well.

 

[Sissy]

We had our share of cold last winter.
have cochins, and they did well
but I strung a line from the house to the coop(4x8)
for a heat lamp and had it on 24/7 hanging over their water.which kept it from freezing sometimes.....
we have a wood floor with deep liter wood shavings.