Cold weather

[bcjlemaire]

How cold can chickens handle? Ours are about 8 - 9 months old. They've been outside for awhile but haven't been through a Colorado winter. Temps have been down to the 20's so far. And they seem fine. I've heard different stories whether to put a heater in their coop or not. Especially if it gets to subzero temps. Or stack some hay bails around the outside? Anybody got some suggestions!
Thanks!

 

[lcwmt]

we are in N Central Montana. Overnight lows have been 10-14 degrees above zero since Friday. The chickens do not have an insulated or heated coop. They came home April 4, are a little younger than yours I think. They're fine. Not all of them are laying daily but they are going out into the run and out of the coop if the sun is out.
Personally, I would not risk the fire dangers that ensue from a heater in the coop, would prefer the girls acclimate to the cold.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Wisconsin winters get pretty cold, sometimes around -20F. So far my 4 months are doing good, every DAY is around 30F-50F, and night a little below freezing. Luckily summers are VERY hot, so we get a break. So what I'm trying to say is I think chickens can last up to 0F by themselves, but with a group maybe around (-15F)-(-20F).

 

[bobbi-j]

If your chickens are in a well ventilated, draft-free coop, they will be fine. I'm in MN where it can get to -20's and sometimes -30's for several days in a row. Make sure they have access to fresh water at all times, plenty of food, and nice deep bedding. If you have large-combed birds, the combs may get frostbite, but it doesn't seem to cause the bird any pain. I had a rooster last winter that got "winter dubbed". He didn't show any signs of discomfort that I could tell. I try to get rose or pea-combed chickens specifically because they don't seem to get frostbite.

When I first started out with chickens, I thought they needed to be kept locked up tight in the coop, and I used a heat lamp to keep the water thawed. They got colder and frostbit at relatively warm temperatures. It's the moisture buildup in the coop from water, breathing and poop that causes the problems. Respiratory problems can also happen when they're locked up like that in the winter. Since I've changed how I keep them, they have done much better.

 

[Mrs. K]

Don't worry about warm, worry about dry. A dry chicken out of the wind, can take darn cold weather. -33 last year here, and mine were fine.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

If your chickens are in a well ventilated, draft-free coop, they will be fine. I'm in MN where it can get to -20's and sometimes -30's for several days in a row. Make sure they have access to fresh water at all times, plenty of food, and nice deep bedding. If you have large-combed birds, the combs may get frostbite, but it doesn't seem to cause the bird any pain. I had a rooster last winter that got "winter dubbed". He didn't show any signs of discomfort that I could tell. I try to get rose or pea-combed chickens specifically because they don't seem to get frostbite.

When I first started out with chickens, I thought they needed to be kept locked up tight in the coop, and I used a heat lamp to keep the water thawed. They got colder and frostbit at relatively warm temperatures. It's the moisture buildup in the coop from water, breathing and poop that causes the problems. Respiratory problems can also happen when they're locked up like that in the winter. Since I've changed how I keep them, they have done much better.

I don’t use a heat lamp in my coop, (for many reasons) and I have ventilation spots, does that count as a draft? They have rain guards over them so wind can’t really get in but the bad air can filter out, is that a draft? Or is it fine?

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Don't worry about warm, worry about dry. A dry chicken out of the wind, can take darn cold weather. -33 last year here, and mine were fine.

Yes, whenever it rains I lock them up, but the coop is so big for just the current flock of 6 living there (until I integrate my new chicks) so they don’t mind.

 

[bobbi-j]

I don’t use a heat lamp in my coop, (for many reasons) and I have ventilation spots, does that count as a draft? They have rain guards over them so wind can’t really get in but the bad air can filter out, is that a draft? Or is it fine?

That sounds pretty good. What you don't want is a breeze or wind blowing directly on your birds - especially one strong enough to ruffle their feathers. That will let all the heat that's trapped in the feathers out, and then they will get cold.