DO CHICKENS NEED HEAT IN THE WINTER? YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED!

[@jessegreco6818]

What does it mean to “retire” the chicken? They get to stop laying eggs and just hang out and enjoy retirement ? 🤠

[@ezekielreed3589]

That's right! But usually they don't hang around, they usually go to the great coop in the sky, where they drink cocktails and party!

[@CountrySing]

Many think a hen a few years old should be culling out of flock. I think idea comes from commercial farms because hens there live a very unnatural life ,so their egg production goes down very fast and they cull them out fast and young. A backyard small flock in most cases is living in very low stress natural life. Keep in mind hens can live up to 10 years old. I have many older hens that lay just as good as younger ones. I say a happy hen is a laying hen. Most hens not laying has to do with environment. I raised chickens most my life it was my job as young boy on farm.

[@jessegreco6818]

matt 4you a lot of older hens out there thank you 🤠. Yeah, I have old hens too and they are doing fine.

[@CountrySing]

@eyelidz Layers are not meat breeds,but guess some may eat them...

[@user-io3hy4zb4s]

@@CountrySing they make good pig food after you butcher them. It's amazing how many things a pig can reconfigure into bacon.

[@Blurb777]

When hens got too old to lay, my grandmother just let them have the run of the farm till they died a natural death. She said since they served her well, she will treat them with the respect they've earned. I have always appreciated that about my grandmother.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Yep...chickens that run free just get eaten by varmints....grandma just let them go so she didn't have to fool with them lol Chickens that have run of the farm....come up missing

[@Blurb777]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer - This is on a Greek island. We don't have the varmints you have in the states. We have goats, birds, scorpions, hedgehogs, multiple cats , but no foxes, wolves, badgers, bear or deer- The hens stay close to home. She turned the older girls into pets and she gave them each names and fed them with the rest of the laying hens. BTW - there are only rock walls - no fences here. Goats and chickens are free to roam - not to mention the endless cats. But they know where their food is located.

[@amy3458]

Stoney Ridge Farmer Our 200+ chickens are pasture raised and go wherever they want. Thankfully, and God-willing, we’ve only had two small incidents of attacks on our chickens. Now that we have a Great Pyrenees and two Anatolian Shepherds, we’re hoping no more predators will seek a meal here. And we DO have many older hens and roosters. We count each and every chicken each night on the roosts to make sure everyone made it home safely that day. If any are missing, we search until we find them. Usually we find them under the coop, which is actually the original house built on our land back in the 1950s. It takes about 35 minutes each night to count everyone...but peace of mind that our beloved flock is safe is so worth the time and efforts! We LOVE our chickens! 😁

[@amy3458]

Artemis A I LOVE your grandma! What a beautiful lady! God bless you and all of your loved ones!

[@Blurb777]

@@amy3458 -Thank you, Amy, for such a lovely, sweet post. Yes, my grandmother was very special. Patient, kind, loved God with all her heart, and it showed. And I also love that you make sure all your hens and roosters are safe. Chickens have feelings, too. They actually form emotional bonds:) May God bless you and all of your loved ones, as well - and prosper you in all you do. I also extend that blessing to the folks at Stoney Ridge Farm.

[@TheVacutech]

I live in Wyoming, my Chickens do great. They huddle up in the winter, just like baby chicks. Just added 8-Chickens to the family, now have 12. Never lost one yet. Great eggs, dark orange yokes, you can taste the difference from store bought!!

[@joannem3568]

Dark orange yokes!!! Man can you tell the difference, I will not eat store bought eggs, don't have my own chickens yet, got to get the hubby to build me a coop. Right now we have two different egg ladies that we get our eggs from.

[@paulao7022]

They lay better when their warm. I thinks it's animal kindness, to have a sun lamp, or a few 100 watt light bulbs hanging, when it gets cold. We had over 200 chickens & they didn't suffer. We put straw, in our chicken coup floor & nests, to stay warm.

[@sinetteiversen9978]

Pure logic

[@DarhaLB]

Amazes me people have to ask these questions even with cats and dogs they were created to live outside which living inside is fine I’m just still so shocked and amazed that people would even ask this question.

[@chad9166]

@@DarhaLB dogs didn't evolve to live outside. they were bred by humans to a very specific lifestyle. They aren't wolves.

[@sergystraystar9135]

I don’t own chickens or even a farm but I watch your videos because it’s relaxing

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Nice! Glad to have ya buddy 😎

[@shakibm1558]

I don’t even Comment in YT but I replied to your comment because I’m edgy

[@erikdale9145]

We get that a lot

[@haydenbellis3047]

Turn to Christianity and United Brethren Church before its to late. Cursing upon your enemies, saying anything hateful, premarital sex, and lust are all sins. Not forgiving people is a sin also.

[@haydenbellis3047]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer Turn to Christianity and United Brethren Church before its to late. Cursing upon your enemies, saying anything hateful, premarital sex, and lust are all sins. Not forgiving people is a sin also.

[@robertm.201]

The stripped bird is a Plymouth Rock, also called a Barred Rock chicken. Great birds even as “pet chickens” due to their curiosity. Mine like to be petted and demand attention when I’m around.

[@shreddedchi6926]

Yes! Of course chickens need heat in the winter! About 375° for 7. - 9 minutes per pound.

[@scoop2591]

LOL !!!

[@brookeclifford7779]

Shredded Chi I agree my chickens seek out heat always and lay more

[@bipolatelly9806]

I'm hungry.

[@bipolatelly9806]

@@brookeclifford7779 Stuffed wings!

[@thekatt...]

Lol 😂😂😂

[@pricedownmall]

You need your own TV show my friend. This is the kind of channel KZbin needs, Entertaining, informational, No cursing, Great topics. Excellent.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Thanks man....very flattering

[@andreanash9673]

When u said retired chickens , you mean you got benefits for them like dental , old age , social security ??. If this is the case i want to be one of these chickens .

[@pricedownmall]

@@andreanash9673 Maybe Free roaming in chicken heaven. :)

[@hydrolito]

I use my TV to watch videos on the computer.

[@hydrolito]

@@andreanash9673 Chickens get to eat grass growing and sleep in chicken coop.

[@jovosedlar]

Idk much about chickens but I built a couple of pigeon lofts and two chicken coops and can tell for sure the lack of ventilation is one of the most common mistakes in the loft or coop construction. have the southern or southeastern side open and reduce the risk of respiratory problem. Weakened birds are later prone to all the rest of deseases. hello from Serbia to all the chicken and pigeon lovers.

[@sherirottweilersforever7772]

My Rottweiler is from Serbia.

[@hal7ter]

@@sherirottweilersforever7772 The EU and US are pressuring Serbia to join with them - I pray they will be able to keep their sovereignty!

[@thomascanfield8571]

I use an old camper. Its insulated and has windows to let in natural light. The overhead part I made a screen door to the new chicks separate fro adults with a heat lamp. I cut holes in the cupboards and the closet and that's were they lay. I used broom sticks for them to perch on. You can even use the 12 volt lighting. You can usually find an old trailer or camper for about $100 or for free. You cant hardly build one that cheap.

[@marykennedysherin3330]

What a genius idea! People do give away old campers! Or for small money!

[@aliciaweisenberger9879]

My husband and I laughed out loud when you said this should probably settle an argument you are having with your spouse or kids. That’s exactly what was happening here. Thank you for the information. Much appreciated.

[@cyflym11]

My husband is always going on about giving the girls a heater but I tell him they are made of duvet!

[@oliver77rc]

AaA

[@calebdoner]

My wife and I were just having a conversation about whether chickens needed a heater or not. Lol! Thanks for settling the debate!

[@demp13580]

The black and white hens are barred rocks. Love the video and your wife has a great sense of humor after being Pantsed!

[@bananabuttons6637]

Great video. Great advice about adding bedding to insulate. Been a huge chicken fan since I was 12 and I'm 40 now and still keeping them.

[@chickenjohnny3308]

We have had Chickens For many years. I've never had heat in the coop. We regularly see -20 and our lows have been -40. I do heat my water but no heat for the chickens. We have never lost chickens in winter.

[@ifferl8781]

One of my neighbor's chickens hang out at my place in the morning. This is a bunch of great advice. I love the videos you guys make. Keep up the great work.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Thanks so much! Glad you found it helpful.

[@js1936mac]

I enjoy your videos I was raised on an egg ranch with 7500 chickens. I noticed some of your white leghorns have been pecking each other. There is a oil gland on their back just in front of their tail and when a chicken starts pecking at it all of the other chickens will start picking at it until that chicken is dead. You can stop this by putting blinders on all the chickens or you can put some black tar on the back of the chicken to protect that gland. You're doing a great job I'm proud of you

[@howardlittell8834]

The reason they start the pecking is because of feather mites (tiny bugs) dust your chickens with seven dust

[@T_bone]

I have had this issue and was horrific! I couldn't understand why these former cuddle buddies where pecking to death one of their own!!!

[@hotrodray6802]

diatomaceous earth is non toxic

[@hal7ter]

@@hotrodray6802 A special box with sand and DE to have regular dust baths.

[@nefertitithequeen8640]

I love my chickens a lot so I give them warm blankets and wash the blankets all the time to keep warm; I think they are wonderful animals and pets mine sit on my shoulders and head think I’m mommy since I raise since babies. Like you video very helpful.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Yep....sounds like you have some spoiled birds lol...I love it!

[@pulesjet]

Keeping the water from freezing is a must. love that coop build. Egg boxes is cool for sure.

[@hydrolito]

Change water two or three times a day if freezing.

[@Hankman23]

@@hydrolito or 15-20 times a day in Canada, yeah no.

[@elizabethflynn1917]

Right on, From Stoney Fork North Carolina, just started with 6 hen's, from a wonderful neighbor.. never missed a lick on 6 egg's a day! Good information, thank you!

[@lararabb8888]

This lighting in the morning also helps out the person who needs to check the chickens in the morning b4 work.

[@davidmtwigg]

Instead of using plastic wrap that never seems to cooperate you could just install plywood shutters on hinges that store up against the underside of the roof when not in use.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Good thinking David!

[@youresoakinginit2113]

When i heard plastic wrap, I could only think of trapped moisture. Nothing worse than a damp chicken in middle of winter. I wonder how a non-woven row cover would work instead. Just like over an early crop of something (strawberries?), it will allow warmth to be trapped in, and allow air to ventilate, letting moisture escape. I think. Probably best to use a heavier one, so it holds up to windy conditions and being moved around where something could snag it. They last several years when using on the garden, but might look a little dusty after a while.

[@dalriada842]

I was thinking much the same. Though I'd want a frame with some polycarbonate to let the light in. This is a random video for me. I don't keep chickens. Wouldn't the amount of light they are exposed to affect their laying?

[@youresoakinginit2113]

dalriada842, Yep, they are affected by the light cycle; however he has so many chooks he probably gets plenty of eggs and all is well. But something that jumped out at me watching a second time is the gigantic size wire "mesh" used on the coop top and chicken run. That would not work around here-- snakes, raccoons, skunks, possum, rats, mice, etc. are common night visitors in backyards where i live, which is very small town near a very big city. Wild land surrounds the town but not my yard. I cant remember where the Stoney Ridge Farmer lives (Minnesota? --somewhere cold!) But the critters listed above would not be considered "exotic" in any US locale. Coops around here require minimum 1/2" hardware cloth (NOT traditional "chicken wire"), and it has to be dug in a couple feet below the perimeter of the chicken run, to prevent tunneling under to access the area.

[@libraryladydi]

Yep. We have hinged shutters on the chicken coop. Also a window with screen, that we can open for vent in summer, but lets in plenty of sunlight when it is cold. Being in the cold north, we have had a few frost burned combs though.

[@TheLaLaFarm]

Enjoy your videos. We have a out 140 chickens for eggs and meat production. Have learned a lot of the last three years since we began building our homestead by watching videos on channels such as yours.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Awesome!

[@812archer4life]

I'd rather have chickens to catch mice than cats. Those little 2 legged dinosaurs are ruthless.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

LOL..true...but they won't hunt at night 😱

[@frankenz66]

My friend lives near forested areas and has these problems with his chickens. He kills mice, but so do his birds.

[@tstuff]

Plus they love to eat fleas and ticks.

[@tstuff]

Will they go after chipmunks?

[@melissajohnson2935]

I killed a baby snake in my run the other day. Think it was a baby rat snake. But I just looked at my chickens and was like really? Yall could of taken this thing out on your on... they faught over it after I took care of it....😏😏

[@mindycorbin9007]

Thank you so much… I have a Wyandotte hen and 2 BlackCopper Maran pullets ( French) you taught me a lot…. Love my girls…!!!!🐣

[@mr.skeptical3071]

I agree with the cold temps. No heat needed. Just move to a smaller coop (if there in a big open one). I put mine in a hoop style that has a tarp from one side to the other. I then blocked off the door side and left the other side open. Put a bunch of straw on ground and put a roost a couple feet from the roof. Feed high quality feed twice a day. Second one right before dark.

[@shawnmurphy2991]

I live in northern Ontario Canada. We'll regularly hit -40° in January. I took an insulated 5 gal water cooler drilled the bottom for drinking nipples and added a 150W bucket warmer heater. The heater is plugged into a Thermocube plug that only comes on at 0°F and turns off at 10°F. The room temperature water I fill the cooler with plus the insulation keep the water liquid without the heater most of the time. I have 30 birds in the coop and fill the cooler every day.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Cool sounds like a good system

[@shawnbourque6746]

Have you had any issues with frostbite? Or how do you prevent it? At what temperatures should we be concerned? Most info I've seen is from people in places not cold enough to really be a concern. This is our first winter with chickens. We're in a mountain community in Southern BC. We get -10 to -15 sometimes into the -20s, but with the dampness it still feels like the -40s we used to get in SK. Our roo especially has a very large comb and wattles, Some of the girls do too.

[@xfiret20]

Striped is a Barred Rock,we have that and Wyandotte Silver Laced both are brown,light brown egg layers.

[@bobweatherford9876]

I'm not sure if the striped are Barred Rock or not but we have them that look like that and have always called them Dominickers. Also called Pilgrim Fowl.

[@slowfinger2]

Nice coop design. I learned a couple things from You today. Where I'm from, chickens can handle northern sub-zero temps. Just never, ever let their water freeze. Neighbors would hang a light bulb over the water for the winter. Michael Lamone, a few posts down, uses an aquarium heater in the water. Sounds like the easiest set-up, low cost, insurance plan around.

[@BrookeandBaby]

First winter for us here in NH! We just wrapped the first two runs in clear thick plastic. It’s awesome. I loved this video!! Thanks for the info ☺️

[@virginiagamez2657]

Just wanted to say.. thank you you helped be with my first chicks and now the have grown and I have fresh eggs. Love your vids!!!

[@mr.mister4071]

I was always told no heat. If you lose power then you lose chickens. Also go extra deep for winter, just mix it up like you said for heat.

[@Dougs-Ear-Hole-Entertainment]

We had negative 50 last winter. Heat lamps are essential. I just make sure that the bulb is secured with chicken wire in case the bulb base breaks off because if it does it can drop to the floor and catch your straw on fire. Good video but we need a little heat lamp up here.

[@jeffryzimmerman1291]

I will take the feed bags , made of Tyvek, slit them down the sides/end and zip tie to the screen, very tough, weather proof, and your repurposing ( never thought I'd say that). Love the vids keep it up.

[@TraciMoon]

❤great idea.. Too bad I just used the bag as a trash bag and threw it away, I’ll keep the next ones

[@ChrisG9978]

Agree 100%. We've raised chickens on our property for years in the cold climate of Western NY (over by Lake Erie) and they do just fine during the Winter cold months. Have never heated the coop with anything...it provides good shelter from the wind as there is OSB sheathing around the exterior along with cedar shake shingles. The coop has an asphalt roof over the main coop as well as the nesting boxes. The chickens are out in the run pecking around even after a snow storm. We use sand inside the run and inside the lower portion of the coop for ground cover. Inside the coop we use wood shavings (as well as in the nest boxes). Works just fine.

[@grandpa7278]

Daughter started raising chickens, just ordered received fronts for 5gal buckets, little straw chickens should be happy!

[@AutoCrete]

Raised chickens in central Alberta in a coop made of stacked railway ties + 2x4 and 1x planed lumbar roof. No heat and temps to colder than -40. Deep bedding and 30 hens kept it warm enough to avoid frost bite. They kept laying (a few less) eggs too.

[@sacredlysimple]

Our Colorado weather can get pretty cold too and we've never used heat. We did have a molting chicken that lost nearly all her feathers at the coldest week of the year once and we moved her to a heated garage for a while, but that's it.

[@oneyetiger]

When it comes to our chickens my wife decides it all. We live in the upstate area of South Carolina. January we see many nights in the mid to low 20's. Wifey says chickens will have heat in the coop. I built our coop with a roof vent and two sides with windows and no openings on north and west side of coop to keep cold winds out. The coop is under covered carport like area in our barn for summer shade and shelter in harsh weather conditions. Personally I agree with you about heat for chickens, but for peace in the valley I have a radiant wall heater plus a lamp for broody hen when eggs hatch in winter. Our hens lay year round.

[@kellilopez3910]

Some of the chicken coops up north would have the wood-burning stove either buried in the ground. Or at a lower level in a separate room. In the chicken Coop . Then the exhaust pipe which is made of clay pipes. Would run 2 ft underground. And this area of the chicken coop would be filled in with gravel and sand. That way the heat from the pipe would heat up the surrounding material. Even if the fire burned out. The ground will still radiate heat. For a few hours.

[@richgran]

I got an entire lesson on chickens! feeders, watering, heating, you name it - thanks for the video.

[@holleybooth1180]

This will be my first winter with my chickens. I live in NY. Thanks for the tips.

[@darkbulb367]

I've seen other coops that have an underfloor access, same idea. Let the rotting/fermenting/decaying shicken chit provide heat in the winter. Think pier & beam house with the wraparound corrugated metal border. Summer: no border, free flow air underneath, access to dooky for your garden. Winter: Wrap that base, block the wind, hold in the doody & the heat under the floor. Great predator repelling methods too!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

funny....I hear ya buddy...this coop has been here for 6 years...no rot..because it's not wet inside...no predator issues and no heat lamps. Ya don't have to overthink and over spend on a coop my friend.....this works just fine and has for years

[@katedutchie]

This is out first winter with birds. We converted a large shed into a coop. I was so worried about our four hens getting cold in the winter. Our temperates are usually around -22-25C, but can get as cold as -28-32C. We have the walls insulated half way up. They have two large bags (horse stall bags) of shavings on the ground. And have access to a storage bin nesting box with shavings and straw. We keep the lid secured on top and cut a enternece on the side. Hopefully this keeps them warm enough. ☺️

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Yep that's cold!

[@TraciMoon]

Did that work for you?

[@sharonhoang]

Thanks for the video! I keep my chickens in a corner of my barn where they have their roosts, with hanging food and metal pans for water. They have hay in their boxes and on the floor. They also have outdoor runs and they free range during the day. I usually get 10 or more years from my birds....good life up here in Virginia!

[@lisaball2760]

How do you free range without losing birds?

[@sharonhoang]

@@lisaball2760 hi Lisa, I have lost a couple of chickens to a fox in the spring. I imagine she was feeding her kits. Other than that, they come back to their coop when the sun starts to set. I check them and lock the doors. They enjoy roaming and foraging on my property.

[@paulnandico2370]

We live in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and have a variety of chickens. We do not provide heat, even though it stays below zero. No problems. Mild frostbite, but that is a matter of humidity and too much heat and a lack of air circulation. I know. Complex issue.

[@tanyamccarlson1193]

I’ve been trying to find if anyone answered your question… the black and white stripped chickens are called Plymouth Barred Rock-some can be mixed/hybrids, but that’s a very unique look to them. My hen died, but left behind a hybrid son that is still Barred Rock dominant features.

[@munknown6702]

Thought they were Barnvelders?

[@whitecrowranchslv]

I knew the composting manure added heat. I love this coop design as well. We use dookashi in the coop as well, stops the smell and kills all sorts of pathogens!

[@hal7ter]

Never heard of dookashi!

[@SingPrayPaint]

We live in the High Desert of So Cali. I've found that if I put a 1/4 cup of white vinegar in the water trough for every 5 gals it keeps the algae & bacteria to a minimum. Diatomaceous earth keeps the buggies away (as well as the scaly feet parasites). They don't need to keep warm because our winters usually don't get below 20*f. But the summers can get up to 122*f. So we give them an extra trough with only a few inches of water to trudge in & keep their feet cool.

[@astriddevries3008]

Use (organic) apple cider vinegar instead, does the same job but much better for the hens (white vinegar should only be used as a cleaning product). Happy hens=good eggs

[@lisasaunders4835]

@@astriddevries3008 I agree and apple cider vinegar kills worms and parasites. Give them about a tablespoon in a couple of gallons of water for two or three days in a row, every few months, and they will be pest free. I use the DE also in their feed. You can also dust your birds with it and sprinkle it in their coop to kill bugs/fleas. I read that when you see poop on the eggs, it is time to worm your flock!

[@mattdg1981]

That would be a barred rock chicken. Got 8 off then myself great birds.

[@campingintheforest_]

Yeop we have 4 of them also...nice birds.

[@drrussdc]

We got 3, yep good birds.

[@Abbie_Loves_John]

My favorite breed.

[@phillipduncan563]

Other than your little kitchen episode which you kept short and I appreciate that The rest of your video Was direct and to-the-point about everything You wanted to talk about That was Very helpful And non aggravating Thanks

[@lornethompson2346]

In the open plains of Saskatchewan, winter goes to -20 to -40 C Dec to March. Our chickens were in a closed chicken coup with heat lamps providing radient heat in the nasty temperatures.

[@grandmalorna9884]

Our coop is insulated, but no heat has ever been needed except for the heated waterer. It has gotten to -37 F.

[@brentjones7085]

Looks like the pretty one is a Plymouth Barred Rock. I recently started getting into chickens and bought myself some Plymouth Barred Rocks and some New Hampshire Reds.

[@tammyweatherly3595]

Exactly, I have 8 of them.

[@shannagilbert7512]

Pretty little stripped chicken is a Barred Rock 😉 Great video! Thanks for sharing ♡

[@jkfoltz0224]

Had our first chickens for a couple of months now and it is getting COLD! Thank's for the info 👊

[@lowellirish]

Thanks! I was just asking my friend about this...she had 12 or so chickens..same kinda setup. New Hampshire! -30F yeah...heat lamps!!

[@12342087]

-20 Quebec Canada,, no heat no drafts,, deep litter method ,heated dog bowl, plexiglass ...yes pampered chickens ;) more worried about the ducks feet freezing than the hens! ...ventilation,ventilation,ventilation can’t say it enough no frost bite,,vaseline on the comb works great!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Wow!! Now that's chilly!

[@terrygaedchens5928]

Yep, and on the milk cows udders too.

[@secondamendment7880]

I give my hens room temperature water for egg laying Vaseline on there combs and waddles for frost and Sunburn protection

[@paulinemoon5822]

From Ontario Canada, gets mighty cold here in winter, so for my chickens I wrap the coop in plastic to keep the wind off them and the deep straw method to keep them warm at night, I also do vaseline on there comb and wattle for frost bite, and lastly I purchased a water heater just plug it in and place there water bucket on it the water never freeze, I also have lights for them in the morning and at night. Hay wait a minute that sounds good I may live out there myself, man our they spoiled

[@cindyokino]

Is your coop insulated? In Sun or shade during winter? I'm building a small insulated coop, but it's in the shade all the day.. do you think I'll need heating? I'm from Montreal area

[@frankcadillac9151]

Thats a coop d'ville josh. that bird is a barred rock, I believe. Myself I would put some hinged doors to close off the the top of the coop and easily adjust for ventilation. Drafts are what kill hens.

[@elijahclark6093]

Thank you for helping me prove to my wife that wire around the top park of the coop is ok. We are starting with 10 birds and I'm putting the coop together now. I left the top portion open and my wife has been on my case about it. So I'm going to make her watch your video and you'll be "the expert" haha. Thanks again. And god bless

[@chrisunderwood2524]

Not a good idea to not enclose the top...hawks, owls, for and big crows can easily fly in..the bigger predator can yank the chickens out, the smaller ones will eat them right there....then take what they want and fly away...and most bigger preditors will bite through plain old chicken wire..we have always used the hard ware cloth. ...it is heavery fencing, and a stronger gage of wire...we also buried this in the run so animals can not dig it up..and come underneath to get at the birds...also on a coop like that living up in the north we would put bales of straw around the whole bottom to insulate the air under that coop..our normal mid winter temps would drop down to - 25 below zero....during the night and much colder if there is any wind....

[@elijahclark6093]

@@chrisunderwood2524 no no it's not wide open. None of it is actually "open" it's all chicken wire and I've actually made removable covers for the 2 ends and the face so when it's nice it can be open and in the winter its fully protected.

[@David-yh5po]

Thanks for sharing this video with us.

[@steveadams4009]

Josh my friend that black and white chicken that you have my grandmother used to raise a lot of is called a Dominique bloodline. Sometimes referred to as a “Dominecker” they are a pretty old breed but during the 1950s they were thought to have been extinct fortunately they work. Here is a place you can find a lot more information about this breed and many others; (

[@michaellamorte6822]

I use a hen hydrator from tractor supply. basically a 5 gal covered bucket with 4 poultry nipples on the bottom. I use a 50 watt aquarium heater in the bucket in the winter. works perfect.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Awesome!

[@user-io3hy4zb4s]

Great idea!

[@bobbiefaler782]

Aquarium heater! Good idea I will try that. We live in Wyoming and God knows we have tried everything else.

[@nrgyzr2012]

We tried that exact same setup. Epic fail. Still froze. Even used a birdbath heater. Epic fail again 😪. Same 4 nipple bucket from TS too.

[@michaellamorte6822]

@@nrgyzr2012 Depending on temps, may need to go with a 100 watt or even 200 watt. I just know it works great for me with a 50 watt one unless temps get below zero which is very seldom here in the peidmont of NC. It keeps my girls drinking and laying all winter.

[@annlkollar4430]

Your little zebra is a Barred Rock.

[@glennelliott7009]

Thats what i thought. Good multipurpose bird and does great in cold climates

[@cmc7106]

Your taking good care of your chickens!! Heat in coop only if you don’t have poop!!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Yep...they're doing great that's for sure

[@bettyandrews3136]

To the Stoney Ridge I am fixing to build a chicken coop I am waiting till spring to get my chickens thanks for the tips that you gave me

[@gonedeep43]

Love my Buff Chickens. They are my feathered Dogs.

[@CelticRootsFarm]

Good information! We got tired of refilling frozen water dishes for our chickens ducks and opted to buy some heated waterers and heated buckets. I have seen some pretty easy ways to keep the buckets or water dishes from freezing so fast though. Have a very Merry Christmas!

[@tmwinkler]

Here in Central Ohio: We add a heat lamp focused on the water tank to prevent it from freezing. The birds do fine.

[@joannem3568]

Great idea,,,, they do have heated water pails, I had one for the dog years ago. But she won't drink out of it, ? Don't know why. 😕 But I like your idea, I'm going to try that for the wild birds. I feel bad for them. The dogs water bowl freezes this time of year, the birds use her outside water bowl as their own, but we do have ponds and creeks very close around here, lots of water, it's Michigan, many creeks and small ponds.

[@leebailey3990]

All of my chicken houses has heaters in the winter time and fans in the summer I also have water warmers to keep the water from freezing out in the run

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Cool....sounds like you have some pampered chickens.....we don't have power at the coop....therefore our chickens are cold hearty.....weather is pretty mild here in NC

[@dirtdweller9058]

@ Lee As someone who gives refuge to abused and neglected farm animals Thank You for caring about your chickens enough to provide heat and cool.

[@samanthairish8467]

@@dirtdweller9058 until there's a power failure and they die because they aren't acclimated

[@emiliemegassantana5261]

Am very grateful for farmers. Thanks😊

[@j.p.foleyjr.6333]

I have family that up up my wolf laurel ski resort...was just there 2 months ago...we absolutely love that area...

[@lauren4078]

Thank you for sharing this knowledge! I'm going to keep the cayenne pepper and light trick in mind for my girls this winter.

[@FarmallFanatic]

Plymouth Barred Rock is that pretty little checkered bird

[@jddirtfarmer3128]

Yep that's them

[@woutermyburgh5361]

Also know in South Africa as a Potch koekoe @@jddirtfarmer3128

[@bagel5085]

could be a Dominique? but i doubt he would have a rarer bird and not known it. So probably you're right and its a barred rock.

[@nrgyzr2012]

It looks like our Brahma chickens when they were little.

[@cariad81]

I have two barred rock hens, used to have three but she died.

[@Tj4Ev121]

We were just having this conversation lol! You settled it for us! We live in indiana so it does get very cold here. We just built a similar coop this past summer. I didn’t know about cayenne pepper in their water tho

[@muddyriverdogz]

You made a open top coop in Indiana ?

[@LarryVickery]

You are correct when saying that chickens don't need heat in pretty low temps. Occasionally, our thermometer would hover near zero F. No problem. We also had a flock of guineas, and they refused to stay in the chicken house ever, opting to roost outside in trees. One winter there was a really bitter stretch of cold, and some of the guineas actually had feet so frostbitten that their feet died and fell off. Miraculously they survived and hopped around on stubs until they were eventually killed by us for the supper table, or caught by predators.

[@TraciMoon]

😂😅😮😢

[@JavierRodriguez-mc5fj]

Pretty good hen house, he's right about the chikens about not needing any extra heat, they are their own furnace, all nature is! Birds, turkey etc..

[@Aangel452]

I live in Australia and just as you have excessive snow and cold, we have excessive heat. So insulating the coop is the best option. Newspaper also is a good insulator. But for me if in snow I would insulate all the walls and have a couple of heat lamps in there through the winter.

[@diydanvapes]

Love the positive energy yall have!! Stay warm man!!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Thanks dan! Always a great comment coming from you buddy...i really appreciate you 🤠

[@sandrapapatzanakis4709]

Hi! Thank you so much for your videos I have been watching your videos and have been learning a lot. I just lost all my 50 chickens due to a fire 10 days ago. They caught on fire because I left a heating lamp on and we think maybe one of the chickens jumped on the cord and made it fall causing it to break. I’m starting all over and you’ve been so helpful for me.

[@sheiladrapiza9972]

Sorry 😞 about the girls. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@pamelasharkey7653]

Maybe you should find a hobby that doesn't require thinking...

[@hal7ter]

@@pamelasharkey7653 You did not think that reply out very well, unless you intended to be cruel.

[@hal7ter]

Thank you for the warning - I don't think I would want to use a heating lamp - you helped make up my mind.

[@eddielane9569]

I use to raise chickens as a youth and in the cold month's I would put a heat lamp out for them. Some would use it and other's not until it was in the teens. You can get an electric waterer to keep the water from freezing if you want. It keeps the water warm and it is a lot preferable to drinking cold icy water. That can bring their temp down and make them cool. All you said was true I am just giving some other view point's. Love your chicken pen.

[@joelalleman9591]

as a young boy 4 and 5 years old it was my job to gather the eggs from the chickens in the morning . I can remember several times finding frozen hens in their nests !!! I don't forget moments like those because the chickens were our pets as well as our egg providers !!!! So , yes indeed , I believe to have "healthy chickens " they need heat in the winter !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Chickens don't live forever my friend....odds are the birds did not die from the cold..especially sitting on the nest. What happens is that by heating the coop you cheat the birds out of getting their winter "coat" of feathers....then when it's really really nasty out...snow and ice cold...ya lose power and all your birds freeze to death because ya didn't let them harden off....follow the advice in this video and you'll be fine....extreme temps ...of course...but no colder than 15 degrees you should be fine as long as they are out of the wind....the birds need to get hardened off to the cold..and ya need a cold hearty bird if you live in a colder climate

[@BruceDragon-sf1tr]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer what's a cold hearty bird?

[@andrewdudenhoffer9512]

-40 in Saskatchewan for many days, sometimes weeks, never used heat other than a lamp for the water. And our coop is 250 sq feet with 10 foot ceilings.

[@classicrocklover5615]

What breed chickens did you raise?

[@andrewdudenhoffer9512]

@@classicrocklover5615 ISA Brown.

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

Enjoyed this... those chickens are blessed with nice warm feathers ;)

[@DV-ol7vt]

Barred Rock, I always like keeping them around for hatching eggs, they get broody and make good moms, a good docile multi use bird. They are very similar to the Dominique or Dominecker how we say in the south.Dominecker is rose comb and Barred Rock is a straight comb

[@barbarasteed3966]

Yes I thought Domanecker

[@RJD0314]

Thanks for adding chapters!!!

[@eddiehorton1825]

Great Video. I just got my first, (15) I'm enjoying myself throughly !!! Your post answers a lot of my questions. Thanks. Ogden Utah.

[@emariaenterprises]

The black and white bird looks like a barred rock. I got some mystery chick's from tractor supply at their end of season sale. I think they are Black Langshans. Still not full grown, but they are larger than the New Hampshires of the same age, and have fathery feet.

[@brent9516]

If you want to enjoy eggs all winter you will need to extend the day light hours. It obviously starts getting darker as we approach winter, put a very low watt bulb on a timer.

[@YourOldDog]

We didn't know what wattage to use, went with 40 watt aimed up at reflective ceiling and it is perfect.

[@FrednGinger2]

He pantsed Mrs Stoney Ridge! ☺️

[@pmessinger]

She must have insisted on an edit. Our loss. That mischief can be dangerous.

[@richardp.4250]

Yes Miss Moore Shtuff 😘

[@eughattobanxks7683]

Cute couple that means their a team good man it's funny how he was saying it they looked fun. Nice vids keep em coming

[@denisewilson8367]

@@pmessinger Mrs, Stoney Ridge still had Josh's skivvies on her head in the first 3 seconds of this video. Watch it again. She was ducking down at the sink laughing. Hilarious!

[@yannik310]

This coop is so creative, I love it

[@lindahybicki5079]

Here in Central Wisconsin where we get to -20, we don't use heat in the coop. I have mostly short comb chickens except for the leghorns which don't seem to get frostbite.

[@MrClean417]

I copied your coup, mostly. In the kansas city area we do get fairly cold, lower teens last couple of weeks, 40-50 this week. I use a product called coroplast,. If you've seen big 4x8 campaign signs by the side of the road that plastic card board is coroplast. 8 feet is the length of our coops. I measure up to the rafters mark the nearest flute and add a foot and mark that flute. Cut the last flute all the way through and cut the first flute on one side only. Push that flute up into the rafters so that the mesh of your coop is covered and attach with lathe screws. Attach the flap to the rafters fence way. Two pieces cover the long sides and one piece will cover your ends. I live in the top of a valley's bowl, on the southwest side. This means the predominant winter wind comes right into my coop. I didn't think it would matter much but the remote thermometer needed to differ. My wife ordered cozy plates. I ordered jumbo pool noodles. These fit between my rafters and the coroplast perfectly and now it is airtight up above, mostly. The is a trickle of air that goes through the coop so we don't have to worry about ammonia buildup. Last time it was 14 degrees outside and 15 degrees in the run i.e. was 45 in the coop. There are great plates but they have a thermostat in them. It's a great setup. I need to make a video of the whole shebang but for now i just want to give props to your great design. From Oleo Acres in Kearney, Mo (home of Jesse James), whoooo buddy!

[@danielpope4301]

I like to light them up in the morning instead of the evening, this way the light doesn't go off with them wandering around and unable to see to get up on the roost. Chickens can't see well in the dark and may end up sleeping in the floor.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Very good point Daniel! Thanks for the input brotha!

[@Marketto8777]

some sleep on the floor anyways lol

[@arctodussimus6198]

My first job was taking care of 100 chicks that my Dad brought home when I was five years old. I fed them and collected eggs twice a day until I was in the fourth grade and we moved into town. I was told that you can’t freeze a live chicken. I suppose you can if you try, but it isn’t really that hard to keep them alive in the cold.

[@hal7ter]

Thank you!

[@jennyfox1398]

I thought my quail needed heat. Found out unless its 0 degrees and windy they don't even notice. My chickens are not getting a lamp. Also found my baby chicks didn't need that 90°+ temperature. 100% success rate and the broader temp was probably 75-80 and they're all happy n healthy. Love your channel!!

[@leroyl9794]

Yeah the coop is nice plenty of ventilation in the summer but I think I wood have put door or doors up top to close in the winter in stead of putting plastic up every winter but that’s my opinion I like your videos 👍🏻

[@donaldmassaro7276]

Cayenne pepper I give mine a shot of moonshine they just love it I'm cracking up at your video

[@Itsava_lol]

I absolutely LOVE your videos! They have been so helpful in my process of raising chickens!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Thanks so much

[@Itsava_lol]

Thank you!

[@hydrolito]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer How much heat do ducks need?

[@motofilmadoresuk]

Thanks for the video

[@corekin6386]

New Hampshire guy here!! 6 in the morning just watching chicken videos before I go take care of my chickens haha. Great video! ( its already snowed here with several heavy frosts)

[@meredithbenjamin6057]

I was raised on a farm. My job was to feed, water, and bed down all animals. The chickens run a good free yard in the summer. Had a nice building with straw and heat lamp for comfort. Cows in the barn even got straw to lay on. All animal got to go outside for bit now then to get exercise. I so miss the country.