Shivering chickens?!

[csummer8882]

OK good, I have about 3" of shavings in the coop now, I may throw a bit more down in there for good measure then. Thank you!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Well, we've bedded chickens on straw (yellow wheat or oat straw) for over 50 years without an issue. Don't know what to tell you. Chickens have been kept on straw and hay in the United States for 300 years and pine straw, wheat straw, barley straw, etc for almost 4000 years. Not quite sure when the wood chip packages, wrapped in plastic were invented, but not so very long ago. I guess the dumb ones die? Survival of the fittest? Sorry about the gallows humor, but it was just there.

 

[maizy'smom]

You can also check for wind direction and put up a draft shield. Just closing the door to prevent the prevailing wind from blowing directly on your birds will help your chicks stay warm. Provided you have adequate ventilation you shouldn't have any problems with frostbite. That usually comes from higher humidity in the coop.

x2. I think as long as they are dry they should be alright. Is there ventilation higher up near the roof line? You might see condensation on the rafters if it is not escaping well enough.

mm

 

[buckabucka]

I think this is normal. My EE's seem particularly intolerant to cold. I have one that spends all day hunkered down, either on the roost or in a covered community nest box. When I sprinkle scratch, she does not come eat with the others, although she will eat if I put scratch up on the roost next to her. It was single digits in the coop this morning.

The other day, I let them out to free-range for a bit and the EE just climbed up on a snowy step and froze there. Eventually, I carried her back into the coop and she was shivering. I feel bad, but I'm not about to heat the coop. She's lucky it's been a warm winter!

 

[csummer8882]

x2. I think as long as they are dry they should be alright. Is there ventilation higher up near the roof line? You might see condensation on the rafters if it is not escaping well enough.

mm

Yes, the ventilation is above their roosts. I see no condensation anywhere in the coop.

Thank you everyone for the great responses. The summary of this....she will be fine and I need to relax! LOL