Can chickens survive sub zero temperatures?

[Blooie]

I won't advise you on what to do....you're there and I'm not and you know your setup, your area, and your personal comfort zone far better than I do.

But about that "wind chill" temperature. Wind chill isn't a temperature. It's a measurement of how it feels with the combination of winds and ambient temperature, and it determines how much affect the cold has on exposed skin. In other words, if the air temperature is 10 degrees but the wind chill is -20 degrees, it's still really only 10 degrees out there! If your chickens are protected by their down, feathers, and are in a good shelter out of the wind, wind chill has absolutely no effect on them, any more than it has any effect on you sitting in your house or car. That 10 degrees would be the ACTUAL temperature, the -20 is the PERCEIVED temperature.

Now that I've confused myself....did you ever know precisely what you mean in your head but when you want to write it out, it doesn't look right?

 

[aart]

exposed skin

Key is.....exposed skin......includes combs, wattles, faces on chickens.
Keep em out of the wind.

 

[Blooie]

Key is.....exposed skin......includes combs, wattles, faces on chickens.
Keep em out of the wind.

Yep, wind chill doesn't have any bearing unless they're OUT in the wind. Sheltered, the temp is just the temp.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Yep, wind chill doesn't have any bearing unless they're OUT in the wind. Sheltered, the temp is just the temp.

True but if they're sheltered temps really don't matter much either.
Temp inside the shelter is all that matters and depending on the shelter that can vary quite a bit or little to none compared to actual temps.
This place has blown up with temp threads and I've been reading them all but finding little useful info.
Can imagine what newbies are feeling. All these t posts where people are saying birds are doing fine in -40° temps are very misleading. I can't imagine any living for extended periods of those temps.
When people are saying such and such temps but in well ventilated coops that doesn't help much. Wish they would include actual temps where the birds are.
I don't have lockable coops and/or runs for the majority of mine and they don't stay in the shelters on their own. They are out and about so actual temps and wind chills apply here and I'm also dealing with leghorns which aren't cold hardy and prone to frostbite.
A lot of variables going on and a lot of these posts are misleading about temps the birds are actually living in.
Come on spring time.

 

[aart]

a lot of these posts are misleading about temps the birds are actually living in.

Looking advice on the internet?....bring your shaker of salt,
not for the tequila but multiple 'grains of salt' needed for unconfirmed sources and/or inadequate statements .

 

[LamarshFish]

Properly acclimated to the cold, I don't think temps are an issue, but ventilation is since if the coop is not properly ventilated the chickens will create too much moisture and it creates a risk of frost bite, especially on their combs.

I have heated drinker bases in my coops hooked up to a thermal cube that turns on at 25 degrees, and they have worked great, however I have found frozen water below 5 degrees, so apparently they just can't keep up and keep the water thawed if it gets super cold (at least the model I am using). So you do have to pay attention.

A buddy of mine has employed a heated perch, that his hens stand on at night when in the coop. Not sure if it's necessary, but I think it can't hurt, plus the small amount of ambient heat I think does cause the air to circulate better. The heated drinker bases also will create ambient heat and therefore a bit of air movement, however, most folks keeping chickens keep the drinkers outside in the run and not in the coop.

 

[AmazingRachel]

I do have a heated waterer that work fantastic, just got a bit of ice along the outside edge, K&H Pet Products Thermo-Poultry Waterer.

I'm getting that waterer. How long have you had it and is it easy to clean?

 

[Michael Propst]

I'm getting that waterer. How long have you had it and is it easy to clean?

I just got it about 2 months ago. Right before winter. Very easy to clean, I like that it has a screen that can be pulled and cleaned easily daily if needed. It is thermostatically controlled so you can keep it plugged in all the time and it only comes on when temps fall below freezing. After an entire night of -11 it only had a little ice on the outer edge that I just peeled off. I cant say enough about how great this waterer has been.

 

[Heatherwestendarp]

Hi!
So, the weather where I live is supposed to get really cold for three days. What i was wondering is, can chickens survive a wind chill of thirty below zero? My breeds are rhode island red, barred rock, and australorpe. I know these breeds are made for cold weather, but this cold? Will they be ok just locked up in their hen house or should I bring them into my garage? I would really appreciate it if you anwered quikly because the cold weather is coming tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[aart]

OLD thread alert!