milovany Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Our hen house is not heated, with no option of electric heat. How did farmers of old keep their chickens alive through the winter? It can get in the teens here. Thanks for any advice. Obviously we're new to this! ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Can you use bales of hay to "insulate" your coop (outside or inside)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokotg Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 They should be fine into the teens as long as they're in an enclosure that blocks the wind. We have ours in a little hutch that's open in the front--last winter it got down to 8 or 9 degrees a few nights; we just hung a tarp in front of the opening, and they were fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegGuheert Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 It can get in the teens here.That sounds like a "three-chicken night" to me! :D I'm thinking ours will be OK just with themselves in their house. The part I hate about chickens in the wintertime is keeping water thawed for them. I've already spent a fortune on these animals and I don't want to a heater out there all winter long... :lurk5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaichiki Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Our hen house is not heated, with no option of electric heat. How did farmers of old keep their chickens alive through the winter? It can get in the teens here. Thanks for any advice. Obviously we're new to this! ;-) Your chickens will be fine this winter. They won't need any heat or insulation with occasional winter weather in the teens. (If it dropped below 0 for weeks at a time I might consider doing something.) Just make sure they have plenty of ventilation, no drafts/direct breezes, and liquid water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaichiki Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 That sounds like a "three-chicken night" to me! :D I'm thinking ours will be OK just with themselves in their house. The part I hate about chickens in the wintertime is keeping water thawed for them. I've already spent a fortune on these animals and I don't want to a heater out there all winter long... :lurk5: Do you have access to electricity in their coop? If so, just take a cement block, put a lightbulb down in the center hole, and place a gallon plastic waterer on top. The lightbulb will give off enough heat to keep the water from freezing. I think we use a 40 watt bulb for this. Easy, safe, and cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegGuheert Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Do you have access to electricity in their coop? If so, just take a cement block, put a lightbulb down in the center hole, and place a gallon plastic waterer on top. The lightbulb will give off enough heat to keep the water from freezing. I think we use a 40 watt bulb for this. Easy, safe, and cheap.Thanks, we may give something like this a try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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