First Time With Winter

[ZANEYchickenguy]

Hello, my 5, 8 weeks old Rhode island reds are still in their 12 square foot brooder. I don't know if I should move them outside because right now it's 5 degrees and it doesn't seem to get any warmer until the next two-three weeks. What really has gotten me worried is, what will happen during winter when my chickens are adults. Will chickens stay in the coop during cold temperatures? If so, is 3 square feet (in the coop) per hen enough. I was afraid if I bought a flat radiant heater, they would be staying inside the coop all the time and would never go outside. I don't mind heating my coop as long as they have enough space.

I'm also not sure if I should buy a coop heater so my chicks can use it when I move them in the coop.

What do you guys think?

 

[RebeccaRN]

Mine only sleep in their coop then they are out all day and it was 10 yesterday with the windchill. I have 3 covered areas around the yard with lots of straw so they have a dry place out of the wind. They don't seem to mind the cold. They are 11 mo old

 

[mraymond]

I didn't move my girls outside until it was warmer. I ended up keeping them in my kitchen in a brooder till about 8 weeks but nowhere near as cold as it is now. My girls adjusted throughout the summer and seem to be doing fine in the coop with this freezing weather. As long as they have bedding, roosting spots, protected from the elements and still have ventilation. Honestly I kept mine in a bit longer than necessary cause of the cold last spring. They will adjust by next winter just fine, but honestly if I had babies right now, they'd be inside still LOL Hope that helps, I'm over here worried about my adults

 

[olcarguy]

First off...are you talking F or C degrees....makes a big diferance. However its still to cold if the chick have not been exposed to any cool weather. If they are already used to cooler temps, they should be ok. In my opinion. My flock is doing quite well in -20F .

 

[Folly's place]

Your chicks are pretty crowded in that brooder, and need more space. I'm assuming that they aren't still having extra heat by now; are they indoors, or in a garage? You could move them to your coop if you have some extra heat there for a short time. or double their space inside somehow.
Three sq. ft. is really tight for standard birds, and there should be more space, or fewer birds, in that coop.
Pictures and dimensions will help here! Let us see what your coop is like, and do you have electricity out there?
Mary

 

[Devyn Nagy]

8 weeks is probably a bit young to be outside at those temps. When your chickens are adults they might stay in the coop when it is snowing/really cold, but for the most part they should come out and they will be fine.

 

[Folly's place]

It's the huge change out there right now. From 65F to 70F and then suddenly 5F is too much to ask of them. A gradual change would be best!
Mary

 

[ChicNmom]

Don't move them outside yet. Then as mentioned you could move them outside with some heat when it warms up in a couple of weeks. Not knowing your coop set up makes suggestions difficult. I have a coop and run. The run has some plastic over it. During the day when the sun is out the run is out of the wind and easily 10-15 degrees warmer than outside. Then at night they are in the coop which is smaller and stays pretty warm with their body heat. It is also insulated and has a good layer of straw and pine shavings in it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Have your 8 week olds been weaned off heat? What is the ambient temperature where they're currently housed? You need to gradually acclimate them to temperatures close to outdoor temperatures before moving them out.

As far as adulthood, with those temperatures there's no need to provide heat but you do want to provide good ventilation without drafts, so moisture can escape the coop but feathers remain unruffled to trap heat against the body. IF you're planning on locking the chickens in during cold spells (not recommended in most cases) you'd need a lot more space, at least 6-8 sq ft per bird in coop is recommended in cold climates where chickens may choose to spend days or weeks inside.

 

[aart]

Will chickens stay in the coop during cold temperatures?
If so, is 3 square feet (in the coop) per hen enough.

Yes...if it's really nasty out(wind/snow).
No, it's not.
Would really help if you have a weather proof run.