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Do chickens need warmth in the winter, and if so, what are the pros and cons of heating the coop? Read on to find the solution that suits your flock.
-door Jeremy ChartierI recently wrote about safe heatingbackyard chickenchicken coops and answer the question: do chickens need warmth in winter? In New England we are buried under itpiles of snowand experience temperatures in the negative. During these times my mind is busy keeping warm.
But these messages often lead to discussion: to heat a chicken coop or not? Here are some facts to consider when forming your own opinion.
Why you don't need to heat a house
Chickens are amazing animals and can survive some pretty tough conditions. If birds have a place to perch without a breeze, they can keep warm in cold environments. When a chicken goes to sleep, she puffs her feathers and looks quite comical. This puff creates an air gap between the skin and the feathers, which acts as an insulating barrier. To protect their feet and paws, birds usually have enough down to wrap their feet and protect them from frostbite. They put their heads under a wing. And if you have a well-insulated coop and a reasonable number of birds, they will naturally keep the coop warm with body heat.
Reasons to heat the chicken coop.
Just like us, a chicken's body prioritizes its functions. High on the list are functions such as blood circulation, breathing and other life-critical purposes. Guess what the last thing on the list is...making eggs. When a bird's needs are met, production increases, but when you are faced with conditions like extreme cold, you want an answer to these problems.Why have my chickens stopped laying?to ask. Bottom line: Cold weather can cause a drastic reduction in egg production.
The poultry industry suffered a major blow a few years ago when the public learned about the industry's coercive method.melting chickensdue to a shorter light duration and removal of all nutrients. Basically, you stop the water and withhold the food, and the bird's body goes into chaos. This chaos begins with an immediate cessation of egg production, the onset of feather molting and a long road to regeneration (as short as a month if managed properly).
When the temperature drops, water freezes, including your water dispenser. If your water freezes (some people prevent this by using aheated chicken water,) your flock is out of water. If your birds run out of water, they will also move away from their food because they need moisture to eat. When they stop eating and drinking, they stop laying. If this happens at the beginning of winter, there is a good chance that your birds will not start laying again until spring.
When the eggs are laid, the shell and protective bloom keep bacteria and other organisms out. This makes the eggs safe to eat, but if they freeze, they will crack. A cracked egg will be contaminated, so these eggs are inedible. It's a shame to waste eggs, so keep your chicken coop above freezing.
Do chickens need warmth in winter?
Even during the day in New England we have seen long stretches where the temperature has been bitterly cold for days. This brings another problem known as freezing.Freezingresults from overexposure to cold temperatures and often causes toes, tops and backs. Frostbite is painful to endure, and it is a pain that lasts.
Do you have an old chicken in the flock? When a chicken's body does more to keep warm, it tends to worsen existing problems and hasten the death of weak birds. Sick birds take longer to recover as they battle the cold, so keeping the coop warm can help weak birds survivehard winter.
Do chickens need warmth in winter? Has a complicated answer.
The answer to the question "dock chickens need warmth in winter?" is complicated, but this is what I do. I try to keep my buyers above freezing, but my birds are free to run whenever they want. On cold days they refuse to reach out and prefer to stay indoors, which should tell you something. Unless you are hatching chicks, you don't need to keep a coop warm, but I suggest keeping your coop around 40°C. So if you want your birds to produce all winter long (especially in cold climates), maintain the temperature of your coop. within your chicken's comfort zone for best results and happy chickens.
Now is the time to think about winter preparations and ensure your suitcases are safe, free of parasites and that any structural damage is repaired.
