Feeding advice for bantams (one broody, one moulting)

[SteveL]

Now that Fall is here I decided to bring up an old topic for those of us where the temperature falls below freezing and the wind chill can reach below zero. I have my new girls for just over a month and am trying to figure out what to do over the winter. I have read post saying they are fine and others about warming the coop…so what is the correct way? Should I put a ceramic heat tile in the base to try and give some heat or just let the girls be? Any advice or help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Steve

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I suppose it depends how far below zero it gets where you are . We often get a few degrees below zero temperatures and the wind chill can be bad but I've never done anything about heating the eglu. I did once try to put a picnic blanket with plastic backing over it when there was deep snow but it kept blowing off .

 

There's some discussion about it here.

 

I don't think there's a right or wrong way, just what you feel is right for you .

[bigmommasally]

It was cold and snowy last winter and I didn't give my girls any heat. The eglus and cubes are double walled to provide insulation. In the wild chickens, like other birds, just roost in the trees.

I popped a thermometer thingy in their cube in the coldest spell last winter and the lowest it went down to was around 10 degrees.

 

They do get warm mash in the mornings which they love, and corn in the evenings as that helps them keep warm overnight.

 

[Redwing]

Hi Steve

 

Are you in the UK? looking at what you have said about heating the coop and the use fo the word 'fall' I wonder if you might be in the US?

 

As a rule no extra heating is required though, chickens normally snuggle up to each other in the night

[Egluntyne]

No real need in the UK, you would be surprised at how warm the Eglu is when the hens are tucked up.

 

If you are in chillier climes you might like the sound of **these**

[Jennifer Jane]

I have a Snugglesafe for my cats who just ignore it. Well they do have a fire/central heating to snuggle up to, I suppose. So I may as well use it for the girls when the temperature gets cold - just have to think what to wrap it in to stop them getting burnt bums! I don't relish the idea of s"Ooops, word censored!"ing poo off the tartan cover.

[Chucky Mama]

I left mine too it last year. Gave them the some warm mash on really cold days to make myself feel better but not sure the girls really needed it.

[poppy33]

I did not heat my eglu as when I checked them they were all warm and snug inside once the door was shut for the night; I did however buy the cheep porridge oats and made them a bowl of oats made with water every night before shutting them in for the night I also used to bring in the glug so that they had warm water to drink in the morning rather than trying to break the ice on the top.

[SteveL]

Thank you for all your answers and yes I live in the US. After reading all your post and thru some of the past ones I think I will use some of my spare/old hay bales to put up a wind breaker for the girls. I will also sneak them some extra corn and warm meals and then I will curl up under my toastie blanket and think of them.

Thanks again

Steve

[Christian]

Hello Steve and welcome.

 

There is some info re heating for eglus **here**

 

 

Sorry, I see you have already discovered the Omlet US forum

[Gelbel]

Gave them the some warm mash .

I was giving my girls' coop its weekly deep clean so the little monkies were free ranged early today. I wanted to get them in when I had finished cleaning as I poo pick while all the bits and piece are drying. I had to be a bit devious with a treat to have them racing to get into the run - I've learnt that if it is not late afternoon they DO NOT want to go back into their run when I want them to.

 

I mixed up some pellets with hot water - adding some spice and CLO as Rita looks as if she has been dragged trhough a hedge backwards.

 

OMG They went potty for it. It was so funny watching them eat it then wash their beaks after each guzzle. I discovered why the bit they drink from of their water dispenser is so messy - they use it as a beak wash.

 

OK so I got the pellet to water ratio wrong and as it cooled down I had 'cement' but I think this will be a breakfast treat when I do the daily clean up once the weather finally turns for the worst.

 

At about midday Grace laid her 1st ever egg on consecutive days and went straight from announcing it (and, boy, did she tell the world - she does not usually tell the world) back to wolfing down 'concrete' rather than pellets.

[TAJ]

Gave them the some warm mash .

I was giving my girls' coop its weekly deep clean so the little monkies were free ranged early today. I wanted to get them in when I had finished cleaning as I poo pick while all the bits and piece are drying. I had to be a bit devious with a treat to have them racing to get into the run - I've learnt that if it is not late afternoon they DO NOT want to go back into their run when I want them to.

 

I mixed up some pellets with hot water - adding some spice and CLO as Rita looks as if she has been dragged trhough a hedge backwards.

 

OMG They went potty for it. It was so funny watching them eat it then wash their beaks after each guzzle. I discovered why the bit they drink from of their water dispenser is so messy - they use it as a beak wash.

 

OK so I got the pellet to water ratio wrong and as it cooled down I had 'cement' but I think this will be a breakfast treat when I do the daily clean up once the weather finally turns for the worst.

 

At about midday Grace laid her 1st ever egg on consecutive days and went straight from announcing it (and, boy, did she tell the world - she does not usually tell the world) back to wolfing down 'concrete' rather than pellets.

 

Any chicken can be fouled into thinking it has a bowl of treats by adding warm water to a bowl of normal pellets!