3 chickens in -20 degree weather and colder?

[annagarret]

Thank you for your advice ....

 

[bellschick]

I wonder what is the coldest temp a chicken can withstand .

 

[mmch618]

*update
Brought the girls inside and they are doing just fine! We have a large unfinished basement they are in. It is warm down there and they are staying in a extra large dog crate for their coop and i made a little make-shift run attached to it with some left over chicken wire. We even got all our eggs this morning, they layed them in the back of the crate where i made some little nests. They seem perfectly happy and very curious about their tempory home. It has warmed up a little to -15 but is expected to drop tonight even lower so ill keep them in untill wednesday morning.

 

[blackswamp]

I got five chickens & I'm leaving them out in the coop. I did close there door to keep the wind out. My coop is 4x6 outside dimensions. There water started to get a skim of ice on top so I changed it & closed there door. I do use the cookie tin water method & so far I'm happy with it.

Good Luck to all the chickens out there tonight.

 

[annagarret]

I wonder what is the coldest temp a chicken can withstand .

Here ya go: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/421122/think-its-too-cold-for-your-chickens-think-again

​

 

[xmonster0]

the coop is too small for me to safely add heaters. in the end i did bring them inthe basement as it just got dark and they would have been heading into the coop anyway. They dont seem too upset, more curious then anything. If i get less eggs then i guess thats ok. IT is -30 right now outside and the wind is even colder so i was too nervous. I hope i made the right decision

i would personally rather not get eggs then wake up to frozen dead chickens, you did the right thing.

as someone else said you are not prepared for this drop, but then again who really saw it coming,

if they survive the season , you did a good job, end of story

 

[mmch618]

temp rose to 15 degrees so they are back outside. This was my first winter with chickens so i guess i wasnt as prepared as i should have been but i think iv done a pretty good job so far. and my dh wont let me put a heater in there . Now that there outside again they seem a little agitated about being back in the cold and seem to be staying in the coop but i think they are doing just fine. going to check on them every couple of hours. hope im doing everything i can for them

 

[craftiekids]

Wow, your having a Heat Wave up there! I'd still take them in at night til it gets up above 20*.. But I'm a big Weanie! I have 12 birds total but they keep each other warm and it's not as cold here in NC I think. Our coldest was only 9* and we'll be up to 55* by Sunday and maybe 60* by Monday.... Wow, winter make up your mind!
Susie Q

 

[craftiekids]

The temp now is 45* "A heat wave, A Tropical Heat Wave!"

I'm so Confused!

 

[annagarret]

temp rose to 15 degrees so they are back outside. This was my first winter with chickens so i guess i wasnt as prepared as i should have been but i think iv done a pretty good job so far. and my dh wont let me put a heater in there . Now that there outside again they seem a little agitated about being back in the cold and seem to be staying in the coop but i think they are doing just fine. going to check on them every couple of hours. hope im doing everything i can for them

Sounds like you are doing GREAT

. The Best thing to do for them is allow them to acclimate to the cold. They need a DRY, shelter that protects them from all the natural elements. It's very simple. They are strong birds that need just a little TLC and they can survive very well on their own. I don't heat at all. It got down to -29 for two nights in a row, they did just fine. I did wrap the coop in plastic to prevent extra strength against the wind.

Good Luck