Think it's too cold for your chickens? Think again...

[Rooster Rules]

Are you in Canada ? Last year was pretty warm..I am hoping for another warmer winter ..
I know I wonder about the chicadees too . They must roost like chickens do ..

Yup, directly north of ND, near Winnipeg, homeof the Jets NHL hockey team

 

[Gramma Chick]

The chickadees and other wild birds get by with down coats and an ability to survive on the available foods, and by eating a LOT of it! When it's 20 below you can see them on the feeder, all puffed up, looking like fluff balls with a beak sticking out one end and a tail sticking out the other. The most like chickens of the wild birds here are the spruce hens and ptarmigans. It's no wonder to me that chickens do just fine in the cold. Naturally, the wild birds suffer more significant mortality in the winter, from predation, from not being able to forage for enough food, from exposure if the weather is too harsh and they aren't in peak condition. But the chickens aren't subject to any of that. They're food is served on a galvanized steel platter, they have shelter from the wind, they have protection from predation, and they still have their downy coats.

They must roost like chickens do ..what I meant was wild birds must roost like chickens do ..chickens bodies cover their feet when they roost ..so their feet also keep warm that way ..

 

[TheJadeChicken]

It is kind of cool here in Arkansas right now after a good rain. We don't run light or do anything special for the big chicken coop. The Ducks, Geese, and Turkeys mostly stay outside in the run. But the chicken stay in the coop mostly. My bantam have an open pen with an old wood 2 Tiered Dog House someone gave me. They don't even stay in it.

I have a 75 Watt light on my fully feather younger bantam hens, and my 3 NNs. And it radiates enough heat for my injured hen. And 3 sides of their pens are fully covered.

With other pets, the only thing we do is put out inside floor heaters for us Humans and for the dogs to get warm after being outside for awhile. Our dogs, and cats love the cold for some reason. The horses have their winter coats.


I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THOSE THAT KEEP NAKED NECKS.

Have any of you noticed any difference during the winter with NN from other "normal" chickens? Or do they brave the cold like normal chickens?

 

[bruceha2000]

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THOSE THAT KEEP NAKED NECKS.

Have any of you noticed any difference during the winter with NN from other "normal" chickens? Or do they brave the cold like normal chickens?

Maybe you need to knit little neck warmers for them!

I would think the lack of neck feathers would make for a cold bird.

 

[TheJadeChicken]

Maybe you need to knit little neck warmers for them!

I would think the lack of neck feathers would make for a cold bird.

That is what I was thinking.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
Or maybe little ski hats ...LOL where is the breed originally from ? yhat might give a clue about their cold tolerance

 

[TheJadeChicken]

Or maybe little ski hats ...LOL where is the breed originally from ? yhat might give a clue about their cold tolerance

Looked them up. Not much is none of them. So many places they were thought to be originated from. :/

 

[Farmerboy16]

Naked necks are actually very cold hardy than they really look. I have some of them and they have made it through our cold MI winters just fine like normal chickens.

 

[PAchickengirl]

I've been reading this thread for 2 days, off and on, and made it to the 25th page. I am very glad to know my girls will be fine over the long Pennsylvania winter! When I asked my husband last spring if I could get some chickens, his first question was "What will you do with them over the winter?" I had to ask my coworker, who already had them.. Of course she said "Nothing!" but I was still a little worried until I found this thread. Still trying to decide what to do about the water. My friend/coworker said she just alternates two waterers, letting one thaw while putting the other with fresh, warm water in the coop.

We are already looking forward to next years chicks!

 

[chestypuller]

well i got 5 used hens, so that brings me up to 7 now to heat my coop.. darn things spend most the time underneeth it tho! heck it was only 10F out and they were all underneeth it!

at night the all roost outside on a branch for a while then go into the coop, i dont close the coop, the opening is big enough for a chicken to get in and out, is it bad not to close the coop? i like ot keep their water outside so they dont get it spilled inside, the go in and out, lately i been leaving the run open also, so they can come and go, i have a creek behind myhouse they can drink from if i forget to change the water.. we got snow today so only one ventured outside the run area.. and that was one that slept under out inclosed porch last night for some reason! crazy chickens.