Cold Weather! I knew I'd hate this

[ChickenCanoe]

IMO the only thing they need is something to protect them from predators.
They'll be fine in the tree all winter unless a raccoon or owl finds them.

As far as outside all winter. It gets much colder here. Below zero. An area friend has a nice coop and covered run. Roosts in both. Her hens chose to sleep in the run all last winter, only using the coop for laying, food and water. That's only one of the reasons (along with yours and many others' that roost in trees) I don't put much emphasis on the protection from drafts thing.

 

[aart]

I saw the 6 months old on your first post...but where are you located?

If you've got mareks, that's a way bigger problem than the cold.

 

[donrae]

Ok. I'm sort of on the other end of the spectrum. My girls don't have a coop. They're in a large run, half of which is covered, and they roost up in a tree. Most are 7 months old. Some are 4 months old. Do they need more to get through winter? I'm in South Carolina. Nights get down to 20s or 30s, but daytime temps are almost always 40s or above.

I'm in Southern Oregon, winter night temps get down to the single digits occasionally, teens most of the time. I had a roo and two hens spend two years roosting in trees and they did just fine, even with some horrible windstorms. We'd hear a thump and I'd always have a mental picture of a chicken being blown against the house.....but the next day they were always scratching around, happy as could be.

 

[sepaditty1]

I'm in Southern Oregon, winter night temps get down to the single digits occasionally, teens most of the time. I had a roo and two hens spend two years roosting in trees and they did just fine, even with some horrible windstorms. We'd hear a thump and I'd always have a mental picture of a chicken being blown against the house.....but the next day they were always scratching around, happy as could be.

That's so good to hear. I got my chicks and was freaking out trying to figure out how to make thing perfect. Then I went on a trip to Nicaragua. I saw chickens just roaming around and scavenging and being perfectly fine. Mamas raised chicks. Some homes had coops. Most didn't.

I figured I'd split the difference. Not perfect, but better care than total wildness. Has worked all summer. But I was a little worried about cold. We're not quite as far south as Nicaragua. Gets a bit cooler here.

 

[schnebbles]

I'm in Ohio, it can get cold. 20's or lower is common.

And yes, the mareks is more of an issue. I am over protective, no doubt. I feel like if I'm cold, they are cold, lol!

 

[sourland]

I feel like if I'm cold, they are cold, lol!

But you are not wearing a down comforter insulator.

 

[ShinShien]

My 1st group is 6-months-old now, and they love the cool/cold weather. I give them warm plain oatmeal on the colder mornings. Course I'm in Alabama, not sure if it qualifies as really cold here, not like Michigan, Ohio, Maine and so on...

 

[schnebbles]

I know they are ok. I just knew I'd feel like they were too cold tho I know God made them to survive.

THey don't like oatmeal, they are weird. They eat food mash, I've been using warm water for that in the morning.

 

[Katt66]

Just from past experience growing up with a flock of chickens pecking around and out free ranging 24/7, they always seem to do better with cold even drastic cold than with hot weather. They all seem quite comfortable and at home when it's cold and nasty. It's the heatstroke you have to worry about. As has been stated, they've got a built in down comforter and a good solid layer of fairly wind/moisture proof feathers over the top. They're far better equipped to handle the cold than most of our pets are.

They'll be fine. ^_^

 

[schnebbles]

It might be because they are just such little chickens! I just shut their coop for the night and thought brrrr!

I do have a heat light if it gets super cold.