[R_A_W]

Hi all, its starting to get really cold now and many a morning our garden has been frosty. Heaven knows how cold it must be in the coop for bess, mildred and gertie! Is it worth buying a hot water bottle to put in the sleeping area with them at night time when it gets REALLY cold? Maybe wrap it in an old towel and then put it under the usual bedding?

[8doubles]

Birds really do not need any heating in the cold weather, if their feathers were not very good at keeping them warm there would be a lot less penguins.
Even the tinies like Robins and Wrens are ok in the cold if they have plenty of food.


Ps I have to chuckle that this thread was next to one for putting ice cubes under broodies.

[Haychee]

no need ... they will be fine!  Hens die from overheating quite easily, but not from the cold.   They will snuggle together and fluff up their feathers to keep snug   

[themagicaltoad1]

I bought one of those stone/ ceramic hot water bottles off fleabay last year because I was worried, but it only stayed hot for a couple of hours so I gave up. Now I just put a load of straw in the coop, they look all cosied up and toastie when I check on them before going to bed.

[fethoboy]

yes as above replys,as long as the coop is draft free and dry they will be fine,i kept my serama in an outside run last year and will do the same this year and i had no problems.

steve.

[8doubles]

Here is a thermal image of a hen , http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=48943.0

note that the hen is not even in the cold weather 'feathered football' shape where she would keep warmer.

[TeaPots]

I agree with all that, just emphasizing  that their bedding must be dry, and the coop well ventilated  (or the condensation will make them damp/wet) above head height, to be draft free.

I have some with really large combs, and in freezing weather, it is a good idea to slap ointment all over the comb (like cross channel swimmers!!) to prevent frost bite. I use white soft paraffin ointment (vaseline) but only on the leghorn and legbar hens, and all the large combed cockerels.  Whilst applying the ointment, it is a good opportunity to check their combs for early signs, eg blue/black points.

[Jeanette]

I agree with teapots to use vasaline on the combs i do it to mine when they are in the coup nice and cozy they don't even know i have done it. Be carefull when i first did it the neighbours got a bit worried to see me go up the garden, torch in one hand vasaline in the other. It got them all talking when the chickens made a noise.

[R_A_W]

Ha ha ha, that did make me chuckle!

That thermal picture of the hen was really interesting, I'm not going to bother with the hot water bottle after all. I might rub a little vaseline into their combs though.  Not sure how much theyre going to like me holding them still while i do it though 
Their coop is always dry and ventilated enough so that there isnt a draft and there isnt any condensation either so I'm not worried now :-)

It's just that I know that I'd hate it if i was running around in the garden with bare legs and a big comb on top of my head!