Solitary chicken - need advice

[Rocky]

Brrrrrr, temperatures are dropping.....so I have read to provide extra bedding when it gets cold, I have an eglu classic so only have bedding in the nest box - should I add a layer over their perches too? Wont it just slip through into the poop tray - or will this still keep them toasty?!

 

Thanks in advance for your answers, from a chilly Katie! xxx

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Honestly, you don't need to do anything different to what you have already . Mine have survived some pretty severe winters up here in Edinburgh and even choose to sleep al fresco (in their walk in run)!

 

The only thing I do differently in the winter is to protect them from the wind, rain and snow by putting up clear covers round their WIR - you could do the same if you have an eglu run.

 

Remember, chickens have a higher body temp than humans so don't feel the cold so much. They also have their own personal duvets .

[kinsk]

Agree that you don't need extra bedding. The only thing I do in the winter for the ones that are in the eglu is to close the door at night.

[Rocky]

Thank you!!! I always close their door - should I leave it open??? I am sure I would have thought too in the very hot months - but not been that hot since I got my girls.

 

x

[Redwing]

their body temp is higher than ours plus they have a coat of feathers, they dont feel the cold in the same way we do, I don't supply extra bedding as they fluff up their feathers to keep warm and cannot do this efficiently if they are sat in inches of bedding, I leave my coop doors open all round and they are all fine

[Ain't Nobody Here]

It's personal choice if you leave the door open or shut. If they get up too early and make a racket, then closing it is a good idea. If they can get themselves up and out nice and quietly then I'd leave it open!