Wintering Chickens in Mild Climates

EadieC2 · Aug 30, 2015

I live in Mississippi, 70 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Our winters get chilly (30's-40's in the mornings, 50's during the day). SOMETIMES it will get into the teens or 20's at night. We only get a snow every couple of years, but the cold here is laden with moisture, and it chills! This is my first year to have chickens, and I don't know what to do! My girls free-range during the day. Also, because of our heat, our coop is all chicken wire with no walls blocking wind.

Do I need to build some sort of wall to block wind during the winter?
At what temperature should I use a heat lamp?
Should I still allow them to free-range when it is cold or keep them cooped?

Any and all advice is welcome!!!!

chiques chicks · Aug 30, 2015

I I've in Pennsylvania, much colder here, I never use heat, but my coop has walls.

You will definitely want some shelter to block the wind. It could be as simple as tarps enclosing the entire coop. There still needs to be ventilation! Here in PA I rarely close the windows all the way. I also have open openings where the rafters approach meet the walls, so there is always ventilation.

Keep the chip dry. All my waterers are kept outside.

Hope this helps. 30's and 40's should be no issue for most breeds if they are kept dry.

chiques chicks · Aug 30, 2015

Mine have a large run and I never close the pop door. They aren't fond of the snow, but will go out in it since that is where the food and water are.

aart · Aug 31, 2015

You probably just need to put up some wind blocks.
Maybe even removable wood walls/shutters on the prevailing winds side of the coop?
Don't block off all of it tho, leave plenty of ventilation.
Can you post a pic of your coop?

Wintering Chickens in Mild Climates

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