At What Temperature Should I Lock My Chickens In Their Coop?

[butterthechicken]

Hello,

I’m from Ohio and its going to be my first winter with my chickens. I was trying to do research on what temperature I’m supposed to lock my hens up, but I keep seeing mixed opinions. I have five hens (one buff orpington, two black australorps, one light brahma, and one rhode island blue) their run in 100 sq ft and half is covered, half is not. Their coop is about 20 square feet (im aware its not the best size, im planning on getting. a bigger one in the future) and is hoisted up a foot or two in the air so that the chickens can run under it. In these sort of conditions, at what point should I lock up my coop?

 

[Sally PB]

Until temps are single digits Fahrenheit, I don't worry much. Wind and moisture are worse for chickens than still, cold air. As long as they are dry and the wind isn't ruffling their feathers, they manage very well in the cold. They are wearing down parkas.

At 15° F, I shut the people door to the coop. They will venture out into the run, which is wrapped on 3 sides to block the wind. The 4th side is in the lee of our garage.

At around 10° F, I will shut the pop door. They stay inside the coop when it gets that cold. They have food, and I put in a container of snow for them to nosh on. I don't put liquid water in the coop because I don't want to add to the humidity.

I have the openings in the coop covered with air filter material. Still plenty of air exchange to vent moisture and ammonia, but it keeps the breeze from blowing on them.

 

[aart]

Single digit to negative F's.
Might help to have your run walls covered for wind blocks, especially because your coop is too small.
Pics of your set up might help us help you.

 

[Sally PB]

@butterthechicken, you can add your location to your profile, and then it's always there. Climate matters a lot, especially this time of year, so it helps to see where you're located.

And,

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Only when it is subzero or below freezing with 30mph+ winds is everyone locked up in the barn here.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I never lock the pop door due to cold weather. I leave it up to them to decide what to do. The coldest I've seen it where I had chickens was -4 F (-20 C). It was a calm sunshiny morning and the chickens decided to go out and enjoy the sunshine. Dad had some that slept in trees down to -10 F (-23 C). That kind of taught me to not worry too much about chickens in the cold. They can generally take care of themselves very well.

If they wake up to a white snowy world mine stay inside for a couple of days but eventually some will go out and walk in it. If they are already outside when it starts snowing mine stay out in it.

If a cold wind is blowing mine generally go inside, even if it is not real cold. The exception to that is if the wind is blowing a certain direction they may be in a calm spot protected by the coop or the solid gate. The cold they don't mind, a cold wind they do.

A key to this for me is that they have options. If they are stuck where they cannot get out of a cold wind they might have problems.