The Poultry Keeper

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

I was wondering about heating for the chickens in the winter. We are based in Elgin, in North East Scotland (for the geographically challenged Laughing

) We have six chickens together. Will they need additional heating in the winter? I have a broody lamp that we could use - or is there something more appropriate? Question

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

As long as the coop is draft free and will remain dry, cold is not an issue for the girls. I do however keep two infrared bulbs hanging over my two waterers, as I don't want the water to freeze up. Wink

(Mountains of Oregon, USA...so I know cold. Wink

)

NannyP · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:37 pm Post subject:

As deb says, as long they are draft free, they'll snuggle together and keep each other warm. I live in North Devon, which of course is warmer, however we did have some cold weather, and on most nights I leave the pop hole open (the coop is in an enclosed run) and only close it on nights when the temp will dip below freezing. This winter the coop will have 10 birds, so I will probably leave it open more Very Happy

debcat · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 10:05 pm Post subject:

Hi, Welcome
I'm right at the top of Lewis, mine have no extra heat and do fine. I leave the light on in the day as they tend to stay in the barn when the weather's really bad.
HTH
Debs

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

I hadn't thought of just putting a light in. We only moved four weeks ago and so haven't had a winter up here yet. I'll get the oh on to it!

jaydee67 · Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 10:24 am Post subject:

Hi there from Shetland ( about 200 miles further north than you Wink

). Our birds are in an uninsulated shed and I do close the pop hole in the winter! We too have a light that is on from letting them out to us going to bed and there is a heat lamp in there too - but I've only used it when they have gotten themselves drenched in the rain so they can dry out - they sunbathe under it! Our run was my veg patch and has windbreak netting on the bottom 3 feet which helps - but they go out in all weathers - only deep snow making them stop and think for a while - and we don't get much of that!

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

I didn't think you could get that much further north Laughing

Our chickens seems quite sensible at the moment. We have just had a big downpour (typical - my washing is out!) and they all went back in the shed.

surrey bird · Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 61 Location: SURREY

My Surrey hens are not so sensible, they stay out in the rain and make me feel guilty! They have a hen house on a covered aviary as a big porch so they don't need to!

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

All of mine stay out in the rain ~ they have a big house they an go into and lots of trees to shelter under, but seem to prefer pottering around the garden

Fangs · Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 6:09 pm Post subject:

Mine are the same. They prefer it out in the rain. The polands look a total mess, and I usually end up bringing them inside to dry their crests. lol, silly birds
Fangs

deanojul67 · Joined: 01 Jul 2005 Posts: 342

Yes its the same here mine seem to love the rain, i put up some rain shelters and they never use them Confused

nigel · Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 7:58 am Post subject:

Mine enjoy the rain too - i'm guessing they think the worms that come out in the rain are worth getting wet for.