Moving North, how will the flock handle temp changes?

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muskovy

muskovy

In the Brooder
Mar 17, 2016
30
3
49
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Hello! Moving to central Georgia with my 4 Floridian warmth-spoilt hens and need some ideas for a temporary chicken coop while we stay in a rental house. How active are chickens in a colder climate, should I build them a proper run or will they be okay in a small 6'lx4'h enclosure (they're all bantams)?

Also, having never lived in a colder climate with chickens, I have lots of questions:
- will they need a heated coop?
- does it need to be draft-free?
- should I let them out when it snows?
- should I worry about them transitioning from the balmy 85F Florida weather to 25F Gergian nights?

Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
I'm a new chicken owner in NC. But I had chickens in Florida has a kid.

My hens so far are doing well in the cold (of course they are fat fluffly butts). We went down to 19 the other night. My husband just put a tarp over the coop and run as much as possible. Their water is outside in the run and it completely froze, so that's a thing to look out for. I keep lots of fresh wood shavings in the coop to help them be cozy. They are sleeping in the nest boxes instead of roosting. I've read that drafts are the most important thing to try and prevent, but you still need ventilation.

Some people add heat lamps and whatnot, but I think that is mostly for true northern temps. As long as they can cuddle together and are out of a draft, they should be alright. Feed them a little more, maybe.

My chickens don't seem to be offended by daytime cold temps. They are out and about. Yours will likely want to run about outside as well.

Good luck and enjoy the culture shock! ;)
 
Haha, im looking forward to the culture shock! Thank you for all the information, gave me a peace of mind knowing they won't need many special arrangements.
 

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