The lesser of two evils

[LaFleche]

For the future you might want to get her some Frizzle buddies to form a proper bond/ subflock with or rehome her to someone keeping a Frizzles only flock.

 

[Dhkoenig]

Birds really don’t keep each other warm. Think of being next to someone at a cold football game, the warmth inside your coat does nothing for the person next to you. You huddle together to help block the wind. If she is out of the wind, she should be fine.

MrsK

wow I never thought of it that way but it makes sense!

 

[Dhkoenig]

For the future you might want to get her some Frizzle buddies to form a proper bond/ subflock with or rehome her to someone keeping a Frizzles only flock.

I understand that logic but I am hopelessly in love with her. She tries to jump up on my lap and pecks at my shin to pick her up. I pick her up and put her on my lap and she LOVES to be pet! So cute/funny. None of my other chooks will let me touch them!

 

[Bawkbok]

I don't know anything about heat for chickens or a coop but I think that heating elements for puppies could be an option. If you're not familiar with them, they are hard plastic boards essentially and the cord is safety wrapped. They do not overheat but keep a consistently warm temp. They come in various sizes. If you use one of those I would definitely add a puppy pad as I don't know if the direct heat could affect a chicken's feet. We used them for many years inside and outside as an additional source of heat during the winter and we never had any issues with over heating or potential fire risks. Just a suggestion or another option to explore.

 

[LaFleche]

I understand that logic but I am hopelessly in love with her. She tries to jump up on my lap and pecks at my shin to pick her up. I pick her up and put her on my lap and she LOVES to be pet! So cute/funny. None of my other chooks will let me touch them!

So so adding more Frizzles it is!

 

[birdlady11]

I'm in central Florida so thankfully I don't have to worry about freezing weather except for rare occasions. However, I have found that on cold nights if I have very young birds who like to sleep in a nest box putting a towel over the front of the box (leaving about two inches from the bottom open for fresh air) will contain the body heat of the chicken and help keep her warm. If you mostly close that large opening with the towel and use that low-heat source under her she should remain toasty warm. In the morning she can either exit under the towel or you can flip the towel up to let others in during the day for egg laying.

 

[Bonnieboo]

I just have silkies, but a couple of them are frizzles. We heat our coop to 40F all winter. We took out all roosts we started with because they didn't use them. They sleep on top of the nest boxes or in them. The ones they sleep in regularly, I put horse bedding pellets in so I don't have to clean them so often or get poopy eggs.

I would leave her be as she maybe just rather be in that nest box than a perch anyway. Keeping her warm in there is sweet of you and surely she appreciates that!

I turned the light on to get this picture one night last winter. Three boxes had a silkie hen in it.

View attachment 4011357

What a relief to find someone else has chickens that refuse to perch! My chickens won't sleep anywhere except the top of the nesting boxes either. I recently had an amazing episode of 3 chickens going clucky at once! Have you ever ever heard of such a thing???
I must enclose the photo of the three waiting outside the nesting box (which is blocked by cardboard boxes) waiting for opening hours ! The remaining non-clucky on top looks confused!!!

 

[Bawkbok]

such pretty birds

 

[Debbie292d]

Birds really don’t keep each other warm. Think of being next to someone at a cold football game, the warmth inside your coat does nothing for the person next to you. You huddle together to help block the wind. If she is out of the wind, she should be fine.

MrsK

Bluebirds keeping each other warm.

https://packaged-media.redd.it/qr92...00&s=412d3f7ec9e943f0921f950c1bbcf87cfc30c0d9

 

[Debbie292d]

I have some experience with integrating, and non-integrated birds. I agree with Callender Girl. Let her sleep where she feels comfortable. Unless she's sickly I wouldn't be concerned with providing a heat source. The main thing is that she is sheltered, dry, and out of the wind. If she's got bedding in the nest box then she has some insulation.

I'm not experienced with Frizzles, but who said they do not hold heat? I could see it escaping some, but she'll probably hold heat better than some warmer climate, gamefowl. Just judging by the feathering they're presistently fluffed which would allow air flow for body heat regulation, but with the ends twirled up, I suppose some of that heat could escape.

Still let her do her thing, and give her plenty of bedding to nest in.

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!