Cold weather question

[patricium]

That's the problem - figuring out what behaviors indicate your chicken is too cold. When they're chicks, it's easy because they cheep pitifully and huddle. Maybe they'll do a similar huddling. Mine seem to like to stop and warm their feet up on my leg while they're out free ranging, and it's about 40 degrees, so they do seem to have a definite preference. I just spent half an hour with a lap full of chickens sunbathing on the front step. ;-)

When I was growing up, my parents had chickens who stayed in the unheated barn (with some cows and horses) all winter, so I know they can take the cold. But mine are my babies, so I'm more inclined to make sure they're comfortable and happy for the winter. If they're acting huddled together and reluctant to leave the group, I'll be adding a heat source.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Posted to the Yaks With People As Pets forum:

"Hello, fellow people-owning yaks, it is getting to be springtime now and I am wondering when y'all turn on the airconditioning for your pet people. I was thinking I would set the people-barn a/c to 40 degrees, since that seems awful hot to me and I really don't want my beloved pet humans to feel uncomfortable, even if they could *survive* higher temperatures. What do you think, should I keep the peoples' housing at 40 F, or is that too warm for them?"

Eh?

It is not useful to keep thinking of how you would feel in this situation unless you have occupational experience as a chicken

They have very warm feathers, and the vascular system of their legs and feet (possibly comb as well, I am not sure) is well adapted to let those tissues drop to pretty low temperatures without damage and without excessive heat loss to the chicken's body overall.

You have to go by their BEHAVIOR. If they start huddling, fluffing up, not walking around doing chicken things, or sleeping in a different place, then they are feeling cold. Or if you start seeing changes in the comb points suggestive of early frostbite (although this is as apt to be due to high humidity or drafts as to *cold* per se).

Pat

 

[Momo]

Chickbird, I'm a chronically cold person and so I (not rationally) always expect my chickens to be cold too, but they're not! Really! I'm not an uncaring person who says things like "it won't kill them..." - I want them to be comfortable and content, not just alive. You will have to believe me when I tell you that my flock is going about their business, perfectly happy and not cold (on cooler days I sometimes turn the heat lamp on for the youngsters, but guess what - they're not interested; they're too busy running in and out of the coop and rummaging in the dirt; they're not cold).

 

[ozark hen]

Plus, it builds up their immunity systems. do a little research so you just aren't taking our word on it.

 

[kritterkeep]

Our first winter with Chickens too:

What about snow, I live in the middle of MI and we can get a lot of snow at times. How do they handle that..

I have 4 RIR and 1 RIW..

They have a 8 ft by 4 ft plywood shed with a tin roof... with no door on it.. but that could easyly be fixed,do they still go out side in the snow...

Donna B

 

[LynneP]

I was just thinking that for some of you who are nervous and have only a few hens, that making a 'huddle box' might be something you would enjoy. Basically it's an insulated hideout, preferably at roost level, where the birds can gather if it gets desperately cold during unusual weather. It can also be designed for storm protection. If your birds never use it, you'll know they don't need it. It should have a 2x4 or 4x4 securely fastened to the bottom to give their feet a spot for coverage and so that any temporary manure is above their feathers.

Another things birds like is a platform so they can rest above the snow. Can be very simple rig that encourages them to be in the run without their feet getting too cold. If you put a 4x4 or 2x 4 on that platform they have even better ways to keep their tootsies warm.

 

[kritterkeep]

Thank you for those suggestion!

things we need to do! make the shed draft proof,
But a door on it
and put saw dust down on the floor and straw...

and put something outside in the run for them to stand on...

Thank you
Donna B