Chicken won't come in out of cold

[southernsibe]

I hope this is the right forum. Please forgive me if it isn't.

I put every one up yesterday and left the house at about five pm. When I got home, the temp had dropped about 15 degrees, and I thought, wow, I hope the chickens aren't cold. Well, I had no reason to worry apparently, they were all roosting outside! It was 36 degrees and dropped to 32 by the time I went to bed, and I checked, they were still there! Even the silkies weren't really huddled together.

Are they going to be ok? I figure, they will know what they can handle, and they have a place to go into if they don't like the temperature.

Rachel

 

[Dawn419]

Hi Rachel,

They'll be fine, REALLY!

We got down to 28 last night...when I checked on the gang before going to bed, half were inside and the other half were still roosting outdoors. They'll go in if they get too cold. I like to think that they are working on their cold-tolerance since this will be their first winter. We got them as day-olds back in May.

Hope this helps!

Dawn

 

[picklespickles]

they really do have common sense. they'll come in when they need. promise.

 

[southernsibe]

Thanks, I needed to hear this! Again, they are out there in the cold. I'm a bit obsessive about their welfare, I'm up at a quarter to twelve to shine the flashlight to see if they are in or out! I guess I need to lighten up!
Rachel

 

[picklespickles]

you are so cute. just like a new mom. you know, like waking up the baby to make sure it's still alive.

i know they feel like our babies, but they are grown. since they depend on us and are smaller, it is hard to remember that. but really, they do know generally know what to do.

in a few months, you'll rest easier. then you'll adopt a baby elephant and it'll start all over again. wait, maybe that's me.

 

[Dawn419]

Quote:

Welcome to the Madness!

I had a flock of mixed Standards about 18 years ago, I loved them dearly BUT there is just something about raising them from day-olds that has ruined me!

They turned 6 months old on Monday and I still go out and do late-night checks on them, just because...

Dawn