Chicken bald back

[Tutti Frutti]

How can I tell if my girls are feeling the cold at night? I check on them in the evening (8pm ish) and put my hand in the wooden coops (don't have an Eglu... yet... but I'm working on Santa!) and coops are cool but not cold. Should they be toasty warm inside? Do I need to be throwing old blankets over the coops to keep the girls snuggly? When they all join together and I have 4 in one coop, I'm sure it'll be OK... but at the moment I have the two ex-barn ladies in one (Tallulah fully dressed, Ursula slightly under-dressed but with a full set of underwear!) and my original two in the other.

 

And it was chilly last night - what about Jan/Feb when it goes below freezing

 

Thanks!

[Egluntyne]

Feel the chickens themselves. You might be surprised at how warm they are. They huddle together too.

[The Dogmother]

They ought to be fine - they have thick feather duvets and their temperature is naturally higher than ours (105deg). As Egluntyne has said, try feeling between them at night.

[WarrensWorld]

As Egluntyne has said, try feeling between them at night.

.........

 

Sorry, but I've just spilt my tea......

[The Dogmother]

Get thy mind out of the gutter!

[sjp]

Feel the chickens themselves. You might be surprised at how warm they are. They huddle together too.

I can second this I'm having to move my 3 wernlas girls out of the nest box most nights. I'm surprised how hot they get especally where they touch each other, the middle one is really hot

[Tutti Frutti]

Thank you everyone, you're brilliant!

 

I stuck my hand in the roost to test the air temp last night but didn't actually touch the girls themselves as I didn't want to wake them - but I will do tonight... Urusla's feathers (what's left of them for my little ex-barny girl) felt cool this afternoon (it's been really chilly here today) so I'll also check out their downy feathers (I've avoided man-handling them too much so far as I wanted them to settle in first - only had them a week). Gonna get cracking on finishing the jumper

 

Sorry, but I've just spilt my tea......

 

I'm having to move my 3 wernlas girls out of the nest box most nights. I'm surprised how hot they get especally where they touch each other, the middle one is really hot

Even in the cold? Wow - thank you, that's really reassuring.

[WarrensWorld]

Get thy mind out of the gutter!

 

But I'm looking at the stars.... I'll call a cab.

 

Seriously, if it's a cold night our four all sleep in the nest box. They're all toasty warm, but poo can be a problem.

[sjp]

Thank you everyone, you're brilliant!

 

I stuck my hand in the roost to test the air temp last night but didn't actually touch the girls themselves as I didn't want to wake them - but I will do tonight... Urusla's feathers (what's left of them for my little ex-barny girl) felt cool this afternoon (it's been really chilly here today) so I'll also check out their downy feathers (I've avoided man-handling them too much so far as I wanted them to settle in first - only had them a week). Gonna get cracking on finishing the jumper

 

Sorry, but I've just spilt my tea......

 

I'm having to move my 3 wernlas girls out of the nest box most nights. I'm surprised how hot they get especally where they touch each other, the middle one is really hot

Even in the cold? Wow - thank you, that's really reassuring.

yep best hand warmers I've ever used

[Tutti Frutti]

yep best hand warmers I've ever used

 

WOW! I see what you mean! It's really cold outside (not quite freezing - I think) and, whilst their wings feel cool, their tummies are really quite warm! But just in case, I put extra shavings in the nest boxes (one of them tried to eat it! Will they ever stop?) and popped them both into the same nest box but they shuffled around, making themselves comfortable in separate areas.

 

Thank you everyone, you've put my mind at rest. For now What will I be like when it's so cold the water freezes??? Hopefully by then, all four should be together and the barn-abees should have a full set of feathers!

[House MD 221B]

ping pong ball in the glug should stop it freezing.

[The Dogmother]

Get thy mind out of the gutter!

 

But I'm looking at the stars.... I'll call a cab.

 

 

I have 2 girls currently virtually naked neither of them moulted when the others did, while it was still warm. Both the Marans and RIR banties are virtually naked and bristly.

 

If yours are regrowing feathers, try not to handle them too much - it is very uncomfortable for them while they are covered with quills, and the quills are delicate and easily damaged.

[Tutti Frutti]

If yours are regrowing feathers, try not to handle them too much - it is very uncomfortable for them while they are covered with quills, and the quills are delicate and easily damaged.

 

Thank you! Everyone on here is such a mine of information!

 

The cold problem is now resolved - I've got my first Eglu coming* so I'll sleep much better at night, knowing my bald-bummed-girls will be snuggly and warm

 

*Yes, VERY excited! Thank you Santa, MWAH!

[The Dogmother]

That's good to hear; they'll soon be snuggly and warm

[simon_blackwell1]

On a related topic, during the summer I closed the chicken in every evening to prevent them doing the whole 4am laying song thing, that was waking me up every morning. Now it's winter I tend to try to avoid going out to the garden in the mornings and refill food/water and take eggs in the evening. Am I alright leaving the coop door open at the moment? Will they be warm enough? They seem warm enough, but am concerned if it gets much colder they will start to get chilly with the door open.

[chickencam]

I think I will be shutting the door on mine this evening -3 forescast for tonight brrr

[The Dogmother]

Golly, thanks for the warning!

 

I might even shut mine in, especially as I have two half-naked porcupines!