How do chicks stay warm in the winter? (2024)

In general, chickens are quite cold, but how do they stay warm in the winter?And how cold is it too cold for a chicken?

Most chicken racerGenerally fine in cold temperaturesBut the better you understand how a chicken stays warm and the coldAlsoCold for chickens, the easier for you to make a few simple things to make winters more comfortable for your herd.

For the most part, as long as they can stay dry and out of the wind, your chickens must be fine in the winter wherever you live.

Chickens are like most animals that are built to handle cold better than hot.So they are probably much happier with cooler temperatures than you could imagine.

How cold is too cold for chickens?

Chickens are the most comfortable in temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.In this temperature range they are not too hot or too cold.

And believe it or not, chickens actually have a much easier time to stay warm in the winter than they doStay cool in the summer.

Although the optimum temperature for chickens is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, they are completely comfortable in temperatures up to 40 to 45 degrees and they will even do well if the temperatures fall below freezing - and even below zero!

I think my chickens would rather stay in their chicken run when the temperatures fall below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but during the winter in the winter it has fallen to a low negative 16 degrees and my chickens are fineWithout warmth in their chicken run.

Cold winter nights

Of course it is the cold winter evenings that are the biggest challenge for chickens that stay warm.

The night temperatures here in Maine can fall to zero in the winter and are often not about freezing for weeks.

Despite that, and despite not heating my chicken coop, my chickens areDo well in their straw filled,,Design free, dry chicken runIt is interesting that many of the meetings that keep our cattle chickens warm are the same ways in which wild birds remain warm.

So how do chicks stay warm?

Fluff their feathers

Chickens have different tricks in the sleeve (wing?) To stay warm of course when the mercury falls, making them pretty well equipped to handle the cold.

You may notice that your chickens will pluck their feathers when it gets cold.(Wild birds do this too.)

Their downy feathers catch small bags of air next to their body, so that the chicken can heat this bag of air with its body heat and keep the hot air close to the body, allowing cold air to touch the skin.It works as an insulation for them.

The more air remains, the warmer the chicken.So they will save their outer springs if it is cold outside to fall as much air as possible in the down.

Apart from one of the reasons whyChicken bored every fallSo they have beautiful, new feathers in the winter.

Fun fact: the technical term for fluffing of their feathers is "ptiloerection".

Et am on

The legs and feet of the chicken are thin and springless (at least most varieties), so they quickly lose heat through their feet.To prevent this heat loss, they still have a trick to stay hot.

You may notice that your chickens (and ducks) are on one foot during the day in the winter.They do this to reduce heat loss by reducing their feet and storing a foot at the same time, storing in the feathers on their stomachs and then changing feet.

Best style of bars

I buy together,Wide wooden hostIt is best to keep the toes and feet of the chickens warm all night.By using a flat, wide table ensures that the feet of the chicken are completely covered with their bodies.

A 2x4 board with 4 "side up is perfect. That way the comforting chickens do not hang over the edge where they would be exposed to the cold.

Their feet and toes are kept warm between the plate and the warm feathers on the belly.

Create energy through digestion

Living beings (including chickens) generate warmth when they digest their food.You can give your chickens an extra "leg up" on the cold by offering a treatment before bedtimecrane, whole or broken grain, dried corn, etc.

The full grains take longer and are more difficult to digest than other foods and therefore require that the chicken body produces more energy/heat at night.This helps them to keep them warm in the coldest part of the night.

In general, it is a good habit to postpone the diet and leave it away all day to your herd in the winter.The willEat more in the winterBecause they burn more calories that try to stay warm and there are no grass or insects to eat to supplement their diet.

It is also not a bad idea to feed more high calories/low -fatTreats in winterAs sunflower seeds orkidney fatBecause a layer of subcutaneous fat also helps your chickens to stay warm through the winter.

Head

You may notice that your chickens stick their heads under a wing when they go to hibernation.They do thisProtect their comb and wattles against frost damage.

A chicken comb acts as a "radiator" that lets warmth escape from the body and that is why much of itKiphaardy Kiprassenhave small or non-existent ridges whileHeat Hardy RacesTend to have large combs with which they can release body heat in warm weather.

When they hide their heads, it is the same as wearing a winter hat - which prevents their body heat from fleeing through their comb.

Although the backs of the chickens in the summer are crucial to help them cool, it is equally important to maintain body heat in the winter and to reduce the heat that is lost by comb.

At night your herd throws together for hot.withRoasting side to lace,They reduce each surface of their bodies exposed to the cold air - but of course there will be nobody at the end!

A chicken gives off. 10 Watt (35 BTUs) energy, so that ten chickens radiate about as much heat as a pear of 100 watts.If this body heat can really make a difference in the temperature of your chicken run!

Now that you know some ways in which chickens stay warm yourself, you are better able to help them in the winter.So here are some simple things that you can do to help them stay warm.

Do and not keep your chicks warm

Doing

• Make sure that Coop stays clean and dry with a lot of hot litter (I strongly recommend straw on or considerDeep -Koelmethode))

• Make sure yourCoop has sufficient ventilationHigh to reduce the designs, but still let moisture escape.If you see condensation on the inside of your chicken windows, you need more ventilation - can cause too much moisturefreezing

• Spread straw in the race and at the chickenang to reduce the amount of mud and snow that is traced outside.Grind paths also encourage your chickens to spend more time outside and to help them keep your feet warmer

• Set stem, stumps, exterior doors or pallets in the race so that your chickens can get up from the cold ground

• Make aWind Block from plywood or sailingIn a nice sunny place for your chickens to hang around during the day

• Offer all day long, together with Schoon,Frozen waterInGive scratching grainsFor bedtime

Do not

• Don't be fond of your chickens.They are doing well!

• Do not leave water in the chicken run - it only causes moisture and moisture.Voevoer and moving food and water out helps keep track ofrodents from CoopAnd also encourages your chickens to go out too little fresh air while eating

• Do not let your chickens live in a wet or pulled chicken coop - all ventilation openings must be high, that is, about the heads of your chickens when they roast.I hung upCurtains over the small pop doorIn my chicken run to block most of the floor level.

•Do not use a heat lightOr other type of heat - in addition to the risk of fire, a loss of power can be devastating or even fatal for chickens that cannot gradually get used to the cold

• Do not dress your chickens in sweaters - must be a given but bears repetition: do not do sweaters on your chickens!It prevents them from turning their feathers, which is one of the main reasons why they remain heat.

(Of course battery chickens, a heavy molter, a single chicken or otherwise older sick chicken must be brought into the house, placed under heat or placed in a sweater when the temperatures fall - but they are very exceptions to the rule.)

So how cold is too cold for chickens?

I read it when the temperatures come about40 degrees below zero, it can be dangerous for chickens.

Not many parts of the country (or the world) experience persistent temperatures so low, but if you do where you live, I will present a generator and sturdy cable heat in your chicken coop.

For everyone else your chickens will be fine this winter.

During the day, all year round, I always give my chickens the chance.

DoorPack my runIn Clear-like sailing and the spread of straw on the ground, it encourages them outside.

It is so important to give them fresh air,sunshineAnd some exercises on all except the most windy days.

And believe me, chickens are much colder -hard than you might think.

Pin yours!

References/read further:

Hatchwell BJ, Sharp SP, Simeoni M, McGowan A. 2009. Factors that influence the overnight loss of body mass in the municipal beating of a social bird.Functional ecology 23: 367-372.

Gilbert C, McCafferty D, Le Maho Y, Martette J, Giroud S, Blanc S, Ancel A. 2010. One for everyone and exaggerated one: the energetic benefits of cuddling in Endotherm.Organic reviews 85: 545-569.