The lesser of two evils

[Mrs. K]

Bluebirds keeping each other warm.

What a delightful video - so darling. But you will note that they are outside in the breeze. And yes, without a doubt the inside birds are warmer, the ones on the end don't die. They stay warm enough.

 

[2ndTink]

Down or not down, blow on a chicken and you'll see skin. Frizzles especially. They huddle up together even with the 40F in there. And yes, they get heat from each other. Ever picked up a chicken in the middle of a huddle? They're warm!

My silkies cuddle pile and it is downright HOT in the middle of them even on the coldest nights, they love to puddle pile. They definitely heat eachother up, on the coldest night I always make sure everyone has a cuddle buddy to help keep them warm.

 

[2ndTink]

I have a small bantam that roosts up in the rafters by herself. She'll get a but chilled on cold nights but I let her stay up there until it's 20 or below. If your girl is in a nesting box you could put a thick layer of hay or stay for her to nestle down into. I have a lone TSC silkie in one coop with dome layers, on cold nights she'll sleep in the nesting box so I just pad it up for her. She's never seemed overly cold. She's also not a frizzle though.

Whether they need heat or not, there are definitely times when it is nice for them and it also helps you sleep better at night (as long as the heat source is safe!) I have both heated and un-heated coops, for specific reasons and dependent on what breeds and ages I have there. And when I say heated, it's not a set temperature, it only keeps it 10 degrees above the outside temperature so if it's 10 outside it's 20 inside, 20 outside. It's 30 inside.