-30 to -60 degrees F with windchill

[Matilda Belle]

Currently it's -30 with the windchill. Next week I saw a forecast of -60 with the windchill. Should I not bother opening the coop doors on days when it's like this so no that cold drafts get in? I know these birds are cold hardy, but at -60???

 

[aart]

Silkies in the wind.....no way, keep em in the coop.

 

[Matilda Belle]

I took out the heat lamp because it was burning on its surface and scared me. Right now I just have a regular light bulb in there. I hope that's ok. Just as long as they get no direct wind, they'll be fine, right?

 

[PirateGirl]

They can't feel the wind chill if they are in their coop, so the temp is the temp. I am all for letting them decide whether or not they want to go out, but with high wind speeds, they won't want to go out, so in this case I believe that locking them in the coop to eliminate drafts is not a bad idea, especially if you have snow on the ground that has any chance of drifting in through the doorway.

 

[PirateGirl]

I took out the heat lamp because it was burning on its surface and scared me. Right now I just have a regular light bulb in there. I hope that's ok. Just as long as they get no direct wind, they'll be fine, right?

What are the temps supposed to be without the windchill? They will likely be fine with some nice deep dry bedding and a good food and water source in the coop. I would remove the food and water overnight though to eliminate moisture as well as temptation for rodents.

 

[fldiver97]

I agree.... keep them in coop, run if it’s shielded from wind. I would not use a lamp but make sure you have deep dry bedding.

 

[Mrs. K]

I did this this year, and me and my birds are happy with it. I leaned a small piece of ply wood up over the pop up door. Then I buried it in hay, leaning a tire up against it to hold the hay in place. I piled the hay on the North side, filling in one gap. So as they walk out of the coop, they have to turn to the right. Really has cut down on the draft in my coop.

Just an idea.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

When I had silkies they stayed in the coop at temperatures below -10. I gave them hay and scratch to mess around in and they were fine. I never added extra heat to mine. They are more hardy than people say they are.