I got this idea and I am not sure it will work the way I hope it will. As you know, I don't provide heat for my poultry in the winter. They have good nutrition, good housing and each other to keep warm. But every winter I have to bring in one or two to help with something or other. I see the way the energy level is helped tremendously when they don't have to expend energy keeping warm and fighting illness too. So since I have been using these "hot boxes" in the nurseries for my youngsters, I wondered if it will work for adults that are feeling under the weather. I was thinking that if I provided a space for them to go that had a little heat it might help them shake whatever bug was coming on. I am trying to give them something to help them keep themselves well, not to be generally providing heat. I made a box that will hold the heat (fairly well), well away from the roosts and sleeping areas. I kept the hotbox going in this outside nursery, and tonite, all but one bird were on the roosts. So if they have a choice, I do know they will choose the roost over the heat too. DO you think this will work for what I am intending it to do?

Guineas and peafowl on roost

One guinea in the hotbox





Hot box in the coop. There were a few birds in there, but they cleared out when I came in to snap a pic. Some birds nest on the floor in this coop, but not in the box. All the rest are in the other coop on the roosts. Both coops are joined by an open doorway, so they can choose where to go.