Wet head in winter

[HamletAndEggs]

Hi there! Both of my Salmon Faverolles have bill abnormalities and the feathers under them are always wet from drinking... like a baby with a wet bib from drooling. They used to mostly dry overnight when they roosted. But now that it’s winter and they never get an opportunity to “dry out” all of their head feathers and some in their necks ALWAYS stay wet. Coop is heated. Do I need to do something? I don’t care that they look ratty, but as a nurse (people!) I just worry about the damp skin and increased risk of skin issues because of it. Thoughts?? Pictures attached of Juliet (who thought for sure she would be the beautiful one in the flock and is obviously quite disappointed! HA!) Thanks in advance

 

[ChickNanny13]

What kind of waterer are you using? May want to consider Horizontal Nipples.
Where are you located? May want to update your profile with your location. Assuming since the coop is heated, it gets cold/snow so that will prevent the feathers from freezing if they stay in there. Then there's frostbite to consider.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have a faverolles rooster with a faverolles hen who also has that problem. He also suffers from curling his neck under himself when he is resting or asleep, which makes a mess since his bedding is Sweet PDZ. He gets water all over his face and neck and then gets caked in the sandy material. I was using an electric dog waterer where he got his beard all wet. I went back to a plastic waterer for the time being, and I just empty it out each evening so it doesn’t freeze. The nipples might be something to look into.

What is your location and how low are the temps. Heat in the coop is not good for them, but I will add some when it gets below 10 F at night.

 

[ChickNanny13]

 

[HamletAndEggs]

What kind of waterer are you using? May want to consider Horizontal Nipples.
Where are you located? May want to update your profile with your location. Assuming since the coop is heated, it gets cold/snow so that will prevent the feathers from freezing if they stay in there. Then there's frostbite to consider.

Thanks! I live outside Portland Oregon. Horticulture Zone 8, rarely snows but damp and rainy with a dozen or more days a year with freeze below zero. I use a 5 gal bucket with those little auto fill poultry cups attached (I’m sure that’s not the accurate term!) I’ll look into a waterer with horizontal nipples. Thanks!

 

[HamletAndEggs]

I have a faverolles rooster with a faverolles hen who also has that problem. He also suffers from curling his neck under himself when he is resting or asleep, which makes a mess since his bedding is Sweet PDZ. He gets water all over his face and neck and then gets caked in the sandy material. I was using an electric dog waterer where he got his beard all wet. I went back to a plastic waterer for the time being, and I just empty it out each evening so it doesn’t freeze. The nipples might be something to look into.

What is your location and how low are the temps. Heat in the coop is not good for them, but I will add some when it gets below 10 F at night.

Thanks! I live outside of Portland Oregon. Wet and rainy most of the winter but only a dozen or more nights that are below freezing. Almost never below freezing during the day. I’m curious… Why is the heat not good for them? It’s not central heat, I just have one heat lamp in a 10’ x 10‘’ coupe, so there’s a place for them to get warm at one end of the roost if they want to. Their egg production (important to me) has not dropped with the colder season as I add light in the a.m. also. I was given advice that if their coop is kept a bit warm in winter, they spend less energy keeping themselves warm and have more energy for egg laying. Is that just a wives tale? All ears for your advice!

 

[Eggcessive]

They can tolerate cold very well with all of the down and feathers. Heating a coop can be very dangerous with a posibility of fires, and if they are used to some heat and they go out for the day to free range, they may not be able to adjust to cold temperatures. Power outtages can make them suddenly have to experience the cold. Heat may also cause panting and may help to promote conditions for developing respiratory diseases.

They will lay if they have 12 hours of light throught the day. Keeping it warmer won’t help. Many chose to let their hens have a break from laying, preferring not to provide extra hours of light in the coop.

Most chickens will do quite well with temperatures in the twens and 20’s. Most do not even provide heat even if it is zero or below. The main thing is to have overhead ventilation and prevent direct drafts. I like wide roosts where they can cover their feet with their bodies.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is the first coop fire thread from this year from a heat lamp:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/coop-fire.1343815/
There are several on here every year, some with deaths of chickens, and just coop damage, and some which involve the coops and the homes, unfortunately.

 

[ChickNanny13]