Did I make a mistake bringing my 3 chickens in the house overnight because of the cold?

[NorthwoodsChick]

I just coaxed them back outside and goldie ran right to the nest box she did NOT LIKE the square bucket w bedding n fake egg i set up in the kennel. She squawked at it knocked it around and kick the egg axross the floor lol. I leaned plywood on 2 sides of their prefab coop run to block wind. Not sure what else to do for them. I feel really bad to get them accustomed to 50+ degrees. I didnt know. Many posts talk about larger flocks doing OK because they can huddle together. Mine 3 hens free range my fenced in yard most of the day, so i never built a a bigger run. I dont have a heater that will work outside in these temps, just small bed room heaters. I have a heating pad i could run and extension cord to their coop? But is it a fire hazard, how do i know if they hate it. I can put it on the floor, dont care if the poop on it maybe?

can you get some straw or hay bails to put around the outside run perimeter to block wind at ground level? put a layer on the run floor, chickens love scratching in it.

 

[Hope4Hennsyvania]

How are they acting after you put them outside? My guess is that they are staying out of the wind but otherwise acting fairly normal, maybe not moving around as much as normal. In your previous lows they have grown acclimated to be able to take those temperatures. They are not likely to die or get injured, though frostbite could be an issue. It's probably pretty low humidity and they generally stay out of the wind so windchill should not be a problem for frostbite. They are acclimated to winter. I've seen the temperature swing by 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit in less than a day, including warm to cold. They should be able to handle that easily.

Did you do wrong by bringing them in? Not in my opinion as you were concerned. Your peace of mind is pretty valuable. Would they have survived outside? Almost certainly but they are your pets and they were more comfortable inside. But now they may want to be somewhere else.

My suggestion is to watch them, which I'm sure you are. Make your decisions based on what you see, not what some stranger over the internet like me says you will see. You might see something different.

If the wind is calm mine choose to go outside when the temperature is below 0 F. If a cold wind is blowing they stay out of the wind. I'd expect yours to act much the same way.

So far yes to all of those things they seem ok. I left the stairway to the basement/laundry area unblocked (thats the door they came in and out of and its below ground, i figure they'll just come down to hide from wind or to ler me know they want back in the house? Maybe im giving them too much credit to to realize this) normally its blocked so they dont poop there. Its so cold, its hard to stay out to keep and eye on them but im trying.
Merry Christmas eve !

 

[Hope4Hennsyvania]

can you get some straw or hay bails to put around the outside run perimeter to block wind at ground level? put a layer on the run floor, chickens love scratching in it.

I dont know where to get hay or straw, i can drive to New Jersey to tractor supply. I live in Philly metro area so things like hay & straw are normally sold as.decoration at halloween.

 

[Chickeeaholic]

They're outside right now, i can see if they want to follow me back in.. im so torn. Im filling their coop w pine shavings theres about 2 inches in there now. Ill put in another couple inches. Weve not had a night below 25 degrees so this cold is a 1st for them and i never had chickens before so for me too. They know their names, and some words, theyre more than eggproducers here. My daughter "tucks them in" every night, Says "roost" & theyll jump on to the roost before she turns coop light out 730-8pm. This is crazy how worried I am. Jeez

Mine are beloved pets too. I worry all of the time in extreme weather. Yours are lucky to have such good care and be tucked in at night.

I put my pullets back in the coop but I have a heat panel and feel better that they have the option to get in front of it if they need. It’s 4 degrees now here and wind chill -12. They are all moving around the coop like normal now. I’m going to let them back out as soon as I can clean the run of snow today. The wind is supposed to calm down afternoon.

 

[Starrs]

I dont know where to get hay or straw, i can drive to New Jersey to tractor supply. I live in Philly metro area so things like hay & straw are normally sold as.decoration at halloween.

Home Depot near me in GA carries straw bales in landscape dept. Not sure if there’s one near you, but maybe check out hardware/landscape supply stores?

 

[Hope4Hennsyvania]

Mine are beloved pets too. I worry all of the time in extreme weather. Yours are lucky to have such good care and be tucked in at night.

I put my pullets back in the coop but I have a heat panel and feel better that they have the option to get in front of it if they need. It’s 4 degrees now here and wind chill -12. They are all moving around the coop like normal now. I’m going to let them back out as soon as I can clean the run of snow today. The wind is supposed to calm down afternoon.

Well yes they're beloved pets. I have to keep reminding myself they're BiRDS and if birds couldnt handle cold we'd never see any in spring. But i do feel downright crazy lol.
Everyone here is so kind. I got a few ideas id not thought of. A "huddle box" i have a huge cardboard set on its side w heater pad the floor, if they get curious they can check it out. Some high carb treats, cracked corn and bread (they gobbled it up) ill bring out some wet heated quaker oats in a couple hrs n repeat before dark. Im freezin my human butt of in the process

 

[Hope4Hennsyvania]

Home Depot near me in GA carries straw bales in landscape dept. Not sure if there’s one near you, but maybe check out hardware/landscape supply stores?

Ooo didnt know theyd carry that. Ill check, theres a home depot down the street!

 

[DesertSilkieHen]

I think you made the right call in bringing them inside. I have a house hen right now (an elderly silkie bantam) who I'm sheltering from the cold. The rest of my flock is a little more hardy but are staying in the coop until temps are in the double digits this afternoon.

I second putting up hay bales as wind blocks and a warm dry spot for them to scratch in. Do a google maps search for feed stores! There are almost certainly horses and therefore hay for sale in your city. (I grew up riding horses in a big city).

I'd put them outside with shelter from the wind and keep an eye on them every few hours. If they're standing on one leg or looking fluffy and miserable and not moving much, they can go back inside or into the coop for a bit to warm up.

 

[Chickeeaholic]

Well yes they're beloved pets. I have to keep reminding myself they're BiRDS and if birds couldnt handle cold we'd never see any in spring. But i do feel downright crazy lol.
Everyone here is so kind. I got a few ideas id not thought of. A "huddle box" i have a huge cardboard set on its side w heater pad the floor, if they get curious they can check it out. Some high carb treats, cracked corn and bread (they gobbled it up) ill bring out some wet heated quaker oats in a couple hrs n repeat before dark. Im freezin my human butt of in the process

Yes, I know the feeling!!!

 

[RoyalChick]

Quick update from me. We hit 10 degrees (-7 with windchill) and mine are out and about foraging - including the one that is still molting.