Chickens in winter?

[Ol Grey Mare]

Try not to let your chickens go out in the winter as this can cause frost bite or stress. Keep them inside with some hay or straw, (straw works better since its more of a bedding then hay.)
i would use a heat lamp but if your worried about a fire dont use it.

This is actually rather bad advice - keeping birds cooped up is more of a risk in many ways. Frost bite is an issue of cold, moist air - the air outside in winter is dry, the air inside the coop, though, is often moist (especially if poor ventilation is in place) due to the closed in respiration of the birds and the incredible amount of moisture in their waste - plus, if locked inside you have to keep water in the coop and that adds an instant source of moisture to be drawn into the air. Likewise, stress is actually increased, not decreased with forced confinement. Keeping multiple birds in a confined, closed space also increases the risk of illness and stress related behavior such as picking, etc.
Chickens are far more hardy than many folks give them credit for being. Allowing them to decide when they do/don't want to be out is a smart approach as they are able to withstand conditions outside what we would be comfortable in - if they feel it is too cold they won't go out.

 

[chickenychicken]

Yes you are right but I didn't mean like locked up in their coop, I meant that they shouldn't let their chickens free range in a BIG area or yard because it could cause frost bite because of walking in snow.But yes it is a good idea to let them have access to some outside for fresh air Ect... But if their chickens are out to long in -30 degree weather it can cause frost bite or stress from the cold. Sorry I didn't mean to give the wrong advice I meant to say not to much room.

 

[donrae]

Sorry, still disagree. More space is always better, and the birds should have the choice to go out if they wish. They're smart enough to hit the coop when they get too cold. But I know for darn sure if you tried to keep ME inside all winter because it was too cold outside, I'd go nuts and start pecking my housemates lol.

 

[chickenychicken]

Yes your right. They should get the choice to go out side if they want... I just thought they should stay inside because in the winter where I am it gets down to -30 too and some of my chickens didn't seam to mind the cold snow and one of them got a red bloody foot because of that. :/ But still yes I agree I'm wrong they're smart enough to now when to go inside.