Rearing Young Chickens in Winter Without Supplemental Heat in a Barn

[centrarchid]

Juveniles are positioning themselves in sunny part of pens. One batch of hay will be re-positioned to be in sun. Brood in battle royal mode settling down although one stag staying away from others and he is cold as a result. Their mother is trying to get back in with them which is not allowed. A female Coopers Hawk was sunning itself in barn just a few feet away from pens with juveniles but causing no troubles. Hen may have had a role in that.

 

[centrarchid]

Youngest juveniles complaining big time about dark. I went to check on them and several jumped up on me when I opened pen door. They know I am a warm perch. Crops are full and weight good so they should do fine. Next few days will be warmer than last 24 hours. High today only 10 F and low expected to be around 4 F.

 

[centrarchid]

The youngest brood has been kept from mother for almost a month so approaching 10 weeks old. Mother has been free-ranged outside their pen for duration, To suppress within brood social problems a an older stag was successfully kept with them. He is thoroughly integrated with them. When brood was released to rejoin mother she began to peck each one interspersed with clucking. As she pecked each one it gave a submissive call and she moved to next, until she came to the older stag. He behaved to my eyes much the same way yet she attacked and ran him off. He tries to stay with his gang but gets attacked for it. It is cool she still clucks even after four weeks of not being able to move about with her brood. She also invest effort in chasing off Coopers Hawk when it approaches pen with her brood.

 

[centrarchid]

Doing a little up grading to keep birds warm. Previously the birds were splitting up into small groups and not always staying where it was hay covered so removed all previous containers then installed this huddle box.

Huddle box 2' x 2'. My guys may be fighting temps less than -10 F with a plus wind in coming weeks.

 

[aart]

I'd flip that box over so it has a 'roof' to hold their heat and offer more draft protection

 

[centrarchid]

Another unit will be made for pen behind one in image where flipped version will be tried. Note boxes are cardboard so being used for a short-term "dry fit" to see if works. Birds are more mature than you think. Similar sized birds roost outside with no protection from weather and their feathers look much better.

 

[centrarchid]

Group used to test this huddle box not all that young and are American Game. When run for real in the coming year the home is to run Missouri Dominiques and American Dominiques through it. Lots of upgrades will be made by that time. Cardboard will not be used.

These guys are very much juveniles (8 males: 1 female) with the youngest about 12 weeks and single oldest about 17 weeks. Even the youngest would be able to roost in trees with little or no protection from elements so long as well fed. With these guys I have not concern about draft. I suspect that once the bed down for night the guys in middle are are getting a little hot. Tail feathers are being damaged so better birds in the group will be penned separately before long.

The really like going into box when the hay is piled high, not so much when it is largely scratched out.

With roof / top on the huddle box, they want to roost on top of it, hence was removed. That should not be an issue with younger American Dominiques that are slow to roost up. The box's need to be sized properly for size and number of birds. Current arrangement is almost too tight.

 

[chicks are life]

In the morning I fill my waterer with hot water (as hot as the sink water will go.) And I stays partially warm through the day. At night I empty it and bring it inside so that its ready for the morning. Hope this helps.

 

[centrarchid]

In the morning I fill my waterer with hot water (as hot as the sink water will go.) And I stays partially warm through the day. At night I empty it and bring it inside so that its ready for the morning. Hope this helps.

I can apply luke wam water without concern for my birds. Added heat will make so on moderately cold days they have water all day. On really cold days it likely will not make a difference. Typically they get a good drink when first coming off the roost but do not have an interest in water until a few hours later, by then even water that started off boiling will not be drinkable because ice.

I have not allowed them access to water that I would not swallow fast myself.

 

[chicks are life]

Makes sense biut it works for me!