Chickens Freezing?

[Geckolady]

On Saturday I bought three pullets that are about ready to start laying and a rooster. They are in a commercial, two-story chicken coop. It will get down to 20 degrees F tonight. I was talking to a friend who said they could freeze to death in that cold. I found some thick cardboard and put in on the bottom of the top part, and covered it with wood shavings. They are cuckoo leghorns. I don't want to lose them. Will they be OK overnight? The rooster has a nice tall comb. At about what temperature should I put vaseline on it? Worried first time chicken keeper here.

 

[bobbi-j]

If they are mature, fully feathered and healthy, your chickens will be fine. However, they will be cold and uncomfortable if their coop is too small and doesn’t have good ventilation. The most important thing in the winter is to keep them dry and out of drafts (drafts are different than ventilation). It has been below 20 for several nights here already, and I haven’t even closed the windows in the coop yet.

 

[21hens-incharge]

We are hitting lows at zero here and many times before we have been well below zero.

I second the ventilated draft free dry coop as the key.

Can you post pics of your coop so we can see the vents?

 

[Geckolady]

I just ran outside to take some pictures of it. Sorry it's dark. And this is what they look like. I bought them at a chicken show on Saturday.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I just ran outside to take some pictures of it. Sorry it's dark. And this is what they look like. I bought them at a chicken show on Saturday.View attachment 2388643View attachment 2388644View attachment 2388645View attachment 2388648

I would cover the wire door with cardboard for tonight. Leaving an inch at the bottom would be ok.

That big of a wire door will let a wind in or snow if it gets to blowing out.

 

[Geckolady]

Just in case--I'm pretty far out in the country, and when it gets wet or snowy out sometimes I lose the internet, sometimes for days. It's going in and out. I'm not abandoning this thread.

 

[Geckolady]

Thank you! I'll cover the door.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thank you! I'll cover the door.

Leave a small strip uncovered at the bottom. That coop doesn't have much up high venting so that bit at the bottom is important in order for warm air to rise up and out taking moisture with it.

 

[Geckolady]

Leave a small strip uncovered at the bottom. That coop doesn't have much up high venting so that bit at the bottom is important in order for warm air to rise up and out taking moisture with it.

Done! I used a double layer of cardboard. Thank you! I love them already. They are so sweet!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Done! I used a double layer of cardboard. Thank you! I love them already. They are so sweet!

Hang in there. The first winter will be the one you worry about them the most.
They are a color variety not readily available as far as I know. I will be interested to hear how they do with the laying.