I plan on getting chickens next spring but don't know how to keep them warm in winter. We live in NE Indiana so we do get cold here. What do I do?

Thanks!

Karen,

What is your coldest winter night?

You'll just have to take this into consideration when building them a coop. We have heat lamps in our coop and that keeps our chickens nice and cozy. They don't need to be warm, once they are adults, they just need to stay above frostbite levels. Combs and wattles can get frostbite if the temps go below freezing. Heavy breed birds (Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds) are actually most comfortable at 50º and pretty uncomfortable in summer heat.

We live in Arkansas so we get all sorts of weather. Some nights are in the single digits but then again some winter days will be 60º. So our cold spells usually don't last long enough to be really hard on the chickens. We keep them cooped up in ice/snow and really cold temps. Our coop is large enough to accommodate them around the clock if need be. You might need to build a coop that has some insulation or a couple of heat lamps might suffice, depending on how large your coop will be.

Hope that helps some! If you want to give us some more details, maybe we'll have more ideas!

Susie

I've heard that chickens with smaller combs and wattles don't get frostbite.

What kind of breed are you getting?

I am trying to keep my flock to mostly silkies now because of the combs and waddles. My silkies have never gotten frostbite, but the other breeds do.
I don't know if it is because of the size or not but I would assume it is.
chikiechik

ANY chicken can get frostbite. But those with smaller wattles and combs are less prone to it.
Chickens are very hearty in the winter. It really depends on what state you live in and how good your coop is.
I don't use a heatlamp here, but there's no draft and my girls roost together. Although it dips below freezing outside, inside it's almost always above freezing. (I keep a water dish in the coop to help me tell the temperature.)

They need to sleep in a smaller coop. They can keep warm with their own body heat as long as the place their in isn't too large. I have a flock of 20 in a small shed. They all huddle together. If they were in a barn, they'd probably get really cold. I live in south pa. and I don't use a heat lamp. They don't like snow and usually stay inside if it snows. So, it has to be big enough to allow them exercise when it snows.
joyce

I meant to mention a smaller coop as well. Our coop is rather large, but I have the girls roosting on only one side. What I need to do this winter (but haven't yet) is to put a blanket or something hanging up in the coop to keep the warm air on the side of the chickens.