Chickens won't leave the coop... (it's cold)

[faythlund]

We have 13 hens recently got rid of two due to their aggressive behavior, and here in the winter it doesnt getwarmer than 30 degrees and these past couple weeks have been negative numbers... its cold. And i know this is why, but the girls will not leave the coop. Id be going crazy if i were them. So i was wondering if there was a way i could get them out or if i should just leave them. Weve been trying our hardest to keep them entertainded. So any advice is highly appreciated.

 

[JennyMay66]

That's exactly what we've been doing.. glad to know others do it too

Thank you all! I'm new on here and since my son passed in March 2021 , I moved into his house and have been taking care of his chickens "Laverne and Shirley" lol We are almost out of winter into spring but we just were hit with a winter polar blast and 6-8 inches of snow , winds are currently only at 15mph but r temp is dropping as day goes on and has dropped from 48 to 30 which I guess accounts for the snow. Anyway ,I went out to let them out ( we allow them free range of the yard not a run) I took food and water down to the little part under the coop where the door is and sat it there assuming once I opened the coop itself they v would come out it's been an hour and they still didn't I felt bad so I put the water & food inside the coop . Is that ok? I figure they don't want to come out but still need to eat.

 

[Mrs. K]

Make sure you have wind shelters in the run, a place where they can get out of the wind. I also have mini hay stacks - when it snows, I toss the hay on top of the snow. My chicken door is open in the day time, only very occasionally do they stay in.

 

[cavemanrich]

Just let them stay in coop... Chickens do not need to be entertained.. When temps rise, so will their desire to go outside. My small group of 8 stays indoors in a heated garage, all winter. I only maintain heat to above freezing.. My chickens seem perfectly happy being there during the cold winter. I do provide them with 12 hours of light on a timer. Have limited windows for natural light. In your coop , the natural light from daylight should be enough.
WISHING YOU BEST

 

[Paganrose]

I agree they are smart enough to know what is too cold. My chickens always choose to stay inside in below 0 temps. Give them a bit more scratch and keep the water warm.

 

[Pork Pie]

Mine do the same during the rainy season - their decision so I am happy enough to let them do what they feel is best.

Ct

 

[faythlund]

Just let them stay in coop... Chickens do not need to be entertained..  When temps rise, so will their desire to go outside.     My small group of 8 stays indoors in a  heated garage, all winter.  I only  maintain  heat  to above freezing..    My chickens seem perfectly happy being there  during the cold winter.   I do provide them with 12 hours of light on a timer.  Have limited windows for natural light.   In your coop , the natural light from daylight should be enough. 
WISHING YOU BEST 

That's exactly what we've been doing.. glad to know others do it too

 

[azygous]

Actually, chickens do appreciate "entertainment", and bored chickens are more susceptible to trouble among the ranks.

While they are creatures of comfort, more often than not, choosing to remain sheltered when the weather is nasty, close confinement can increase stress levels.

The very best and most reliable source of entertainment is a flock scratch block, inexpensively obtained from most feed stores. Other big entertainment hits are cabbages and jumbo carrots, parsnips, and turnips with an eye screw inserted to enable hanging. They will peck away at all these items for hours, and they won't detract from their normal nutritional feed.

Another popular toy is a plastic drink bottle with quarter-inch holes drilled into it and filled with scratch and BOSS. They will roll the bottles around for hours pecking at them to get the seeds released.

A tub of peat moss and sand slipped into the indoor quarters will provide a nice "spa" dirt bath, and will be much appreciated by chickens who can't or won't go outside. If you really want to make it a "quality experience", try suspending a heat lamp over the dirt bath to warm the soil.

 

[jas humbert]

Maybe this is dumb question but shouldn't my chickens want to stay inside with the weather like it is? I've got a mixed flock, silkies, wyandotte, welsummer, astralopes all between 6 months and one year old. They have a small coop and absolutely no desire stay inside regardless of the weather. They have a roofed run and a place to get out of the wind but we've had a few days of 10-20 degree daytime temperatures and nobody ever stays in the chicken house after the sun comes up. They don't seem uncomfortable and run around the yard and come clustering around my feet begging for treats. I have a little mat to keep their water thawed but no heat at all other than that. I assume they will be okay outside all day in this weather? There is no reason they can't go back into the coop but they only go back inside long enough to lay, I'm actually getting decent winter egg production. Seven hens laying (plus three silkies that are 6 months and haven't started laying yet) and 5 eggs today (pretty typical). The coop is only 4 x 5 but there are only 10 hens and 6 of them are little silkies- is that too small a space and why they won't stay inside even when it is 35 degrees and raining? Or am I worrying too much and they just aren't bothered by the cold?

 

[BBQJOE]

Or am I worrying too much and they just aren't bothered by the cold?

Yes. That's why they come with feathers installed.