Chickens staying out at night below freezing

[WI chickens]

My chickens hate walking in the snow and as WIchickMama said, I have had chickens get caught out during a snow storm and they wouldn't walk in the snow to come back in. I used to just throw some straw or wood shaving down and they would walk on that. I've since made covered areas so they can go outside without going into the snow. I've also carried them in on a number of occasions. All that said, I've also had chickens that just preferred to stay in my large white pines all night. It's very hard to remove a chicken from a 40 foot white pine if they don't want to leave.

 

[dbzillion]

I've seen chickens sleep in trees in temperatures as low as -10 Fahrenheit (-23 C). They were in a sheltered area so wind was not a factor. Your temperatures being only a little below freezing doesn't concern me that much. I think you are seeing that it really isn't a big deal.

I don't know why those three stopped going into the coop to sleep. Is the snow a cause or just a coincidence? Since they are walking on the snow it sounds like a choice. How old are these three and what sex? Same questions for the other three. I wonder if it is a pecking order/dominance issue. I once had adolescents leave the main coop because of that.

I had a group of juveniles move from a shelter into the main coop on their own after an owl got in there when I was late locking them up and killed one. It is possible they had a predator scare or thought they had a predator scare. You are unlikely to ever know.

What does the coop look like? Size in feet and a photo showing the inside layout (especially the roosts) might give us some clues.

It can be hard to figure out why they moved under there. I agree with blocking it off so they can't get under there. Not because of the cold but because you can't get them. I would not consider it a high priority where I'd suffer doing it in the cold unless you don't feel that area is predator proof but don't let it drag on.

Thank you. You know, I got the chicks before I was quite ready because someone had to get rid of their whole flock. I’m not certain of their age, but I’m pretty sure it’s the young adults gone off by themselves. They are all female and I have 1 rooster who stays in the coop at night. I might need to put a 4th piece of wood to roost on in there so they can separate themselves some without leaving the coop. There are 2 smaller chickens in the flock, but they’re still sleeping in the coop.

I’ll try to take coop pictures.

 

[dbzillion]

My chickens hate walking in the snow and as WIchickMama said, I have had chickens get caught out during a snow storm and they wouldn't walk in the snow to come back in. I used to just throw some straw or wood shaving down and they would walk on that. I've since made covered areas so they can go outside without going into the snow. I've also carried them in on a number of occasions. All that said, I've also had chickens that just preferred to stay in my large white pines all night. It's very hard to remove a chicken from a 40 foot white pine if they don't want to leave.

Lol. I’ll try to make them a dry path to see if they are snow-averse.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I agree with blocking it off so they can't get under there. Not because of the cold but because you can't get them. I would not consider it a high priority where I'd suffer doing it in the cold unless you don't feel that area is predator proof but don't let it drag on.

x2. It's slightly more of an issue to me that they have access to space that you cannot access, so for that reason I'd look to block off the area.

 

[dbzillion]

x2. It's slightly more of an issue to me that they have access to space that you cannot access, so for that reason I'd look to block off the area.

I think I found at least part of the problem.

The ROOSTER is afraid to walk on the snow! I made a path with boards and shavings and he made it to the chicken run. He was SO hungry!

I blocked off the pallet, so we’ll see what happens when it’s dark! Currently all chickens present and accounted for.

 

[dbzillion]

My chickens hate walking in the snow and as WIchickMama said, I have had chickens get caught out during a snow storm and they wouldn't walk in the snow to come back in. I used to just throw some straw or wood shaving down and they would walk on that. I've since made covered areas so they can go outside without going into the snow. I've also carried them in on a number of occasions. All that said, I've also had chickens that just preferred to stay in my large white pines all night. It's very hard to remove a chicken from a 40 foot white pine if they don't want to leave.

The problem is possibly solved! The Rooster used the "WHAT IS THAT COLD SCARY WHITE STUFF?" path I made for him to get the 3 feet from inside the chicken run to the coop door without having to touch the snow with his little feet. Tonight only 1 chicken was in the run and the rest were in the coop with the Rooster.

My current theory is that the longer he was afraid to leave the coop, the hungrier and thirstier he got. He was HANGRY. He must have been horrible to the hens, so they just started sleeping other places. Now that he's fed and watered and coming and going from the coop, they're all inside, cooing.

I have been trying not to get attached to my chickens for various reasons (I might want to eat them if the price of meat becomes prohibitive, I hear they die easily and I don't want to be sad when they do), but Winter is ruining my plan. It's been -4 outside, so I take them warm food several times a day and check that the water is not frozen and now I've been carrying them into the coop every night. Now I know their personalities more than I did. It's been kind of sweet. They're sleepy and quiet and it feels kind of like a snuggle when I tuck them in. And I'm kind of proud of the ladies for just leaving when the Rooster was out of line. lol

 

[Cebarmlds]

Hopefully the problem was found and everything will be ok now, but I was going to ask about light or a window in your coop so the chickens can see well enough to go inside when it starts to get dark?

 

[dbzillion]

Hopefully the problem was found and everything will be ok now, but I was going to ask about light or a window in your coop so the chickens can see well enough to go inside when it starts to get dark?

I don't have a light in there, but I've wondered if it might be a good idea. Is chicken sleep affected by a light? lol Do I need to get a fire-resistant lamp, or will a clip-on work light do?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don't have a light in there, but I've wondered if it might be a good idea. Is chicken sleep affected by a light? lol Do I need to get a fire-resistant lamp, or will a clip-on work light do?

If using a light to encourage them to go in, you'd want to switch it off or have a timer to turn it off once the birds are all in and roosted. Don't leave it on all night. It doesn't need to be very bright either, just enough to let them see to navigate by.

 

[dbzillion]

I can do that with the work light and simply turn it off when I close the door at night. Thanks.