the unstoppable tip to know if your chickens are cold

Winter is a time when it is important to protect chickens from low temperatures, so that they can stay healthy. It is therefore essential to know if your chickens are cold and how to protect them effectively throughout the winter season. One tip in particular allows you to know this with certainty and several tips should then be applied.

How do I know if my chickens are cold?

There are several ways to know if chickens are cold. The first, unstoppable method consists of observing their plumage.

1 – Observe the chickens’ plumage

The plumage of gallinaceans plays an important role in their ability to withstand the cold. The latter have a coat of thick feathers which insulates them and protects them from too low temperatures. However, if the thermometer drops more than normal, chickens may have difficulty protecting themselves and maintaining a suitable body temperature. To know if your chickens are cold, you can observe their plumage.

If it is swollen, it means that your hen is cold.the swelling of the plumage being a natural defense mechanism which allows the hen to protect itself by wrapping its entire body in feathers to keep warm. If you notice that your chickens’ plumage is puffy, it is therefore important to take the necessary steps to protect them from the cold by improving the insulation of their chicken coop, feeding them protein-rich food and ensuring that they have access to unfrozen water. We will return to this in detail later in this article.

2 – Pay attention to the behavior of your chickens

Another sign that your chickens are cold: they group together more than usual, in order to snuggle up against each other to try to warm up.

3 – Listen to their song

Finally, the last sign to detect that chickens are cold: they sing less. Indeed, gallinaceae tend to emit less song when they struggle to tolerate temperatures that are too low.

These three techniques and in particular the first should alert you: your chickens are cold. Rest assured, by taking care of them and ensuring that they are well protected from the cold, you will ensure that they get through the winter in good health. Here’s how to do it.

Also read – Anti-waste: what if you dared to have chickens at home?

How to protect chickens from the cold?

Here are some tips for effectively protect your chickens from the coldthis winter:

1 – Insulate the chicken coop

Chicken coop insulation is crucial to protect your chickens from the cold. To do this, you can install wooden planks on the ground, which will help retain heat inside the enclosure. You can also set up a windbreak, which will prevent cold wind from entering the interior of the chicken coop. Finally, it is important to make the roof of your chicken coop waterproof to prevent water and air infiltration.

2 – Feed chickens with protein-rich foods

In winter, it is also important toadapt your chickens’ diet so that they have sufficient resources to cope with low temperatures. Choose foods rich in protein, which will help hens maintain their weight and produce quality eggs. You can also increase their daily dose of corn, which is a source of calories and food much appreciated by chickens.

3 – Renew the water in the drinker and prevent it from freezing

During the winter season, it is also essential to ensure that your chickens have access to unfrozen water. To do this, you can set up a water heating system, which will prevent the drinker from freezing, or change it daily. Renewing the water in the drinker regularly will also help avoid diseases by maintaining clean and healthy water for your chickens.

By following these tips, you will be able to effectively protect your chickens from the cold throughout the winter and therefore ensure that they remain in good health.

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