Even though our wifey and I live in a warm temperature, there are still some afternoons during the Winter weeks when the temperatures are freezing overnight.
These frosty temperatures never last more than a couple of hours, but they can be difficult on the chickens.
My wifey and I have had chickens in our backyard for 10 years. The youngsters actually enjoy feeding the critters and looking for eggs. I noticed the chickens were undoubtedly lethargic last Winter when the temperatures were frosty during December and February. This year I decided to make some swings. I added a small radiant gas furnace in the outdoor chicken coop. It’s close to the top of the building where the chickens won’t bother it. The unit is frosty to the touch, so the people I was with and I do not have to be worried about the critters getting hurt or being affected. A few afternoons after I added the radiant heater, I noticed a huge difference in the behavior of the critters. They were making more noise and they were much more active. The chickens are so much happier now that they have heat during the frosty Winter afternoons. I am so ecstatic that our wifey and I made the decision to add heat to the chicken house. Every one of us had our eyup set on a couple of Easter egg kneeling chickens that are at the pet store. If they are still there in April when the weather is warmer, I recognize the people I was with and I will undoubtedly bring them home and make them area of our family. It’s too difficult to introduce a modern hen in winter, but Springtime will work out well.