Withholding food in cold weather

[bja105]

I moved my 3 week old + Cornish crosses outside Friday, but I still have them free feeding. I know its time for 12 on 12 off, but we had a frost last night, and will again tonight.

Does eating help chickens keep warm? If it does, I'll wait another day to pull their feed. If not, they fast tonight.


I lost most of my beans last night. I had 2 - 30' rows planted. Everything else did fine, including the birds. The heat lamp was popular.

 

[chirpchirp]

idk about the feeding - but i lost alot beans too! (and watermelon) i was SO MAD! it's almost june darn it!

 

[jaku]

You're still getting frost in PA?? Wow- is there any way to put a heat lamp on your birds at night? I'm still doing it with my 7 week olds- it helps with piling, and it won't hurt them, even though they don't need it. I don't know about whether or not eating raises their temps, but I've heard that they don't eat in the dark anyway. I take my food away at night starting at three weeks regardless of temp.

 

[zephyrcreek]

According to my Biology and Anatomy classes, yes digestion does raise the body temp. I have also had horses for years and there have been many studies showing that feeding extra hay during cold snaps really help the horses to maintain their body temps. I would assume the same would apply to chickens if they are eating.