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

[Chickeeaholic]

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.

I like your hay bale idea. When I can get out I’m going to do that.

 

[Hope4Hennsyvania]

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.

Their coop door is open all day because the nest box is in there. No food or water in there tho, thats in the lil tiny run area below the coop. But they NEVER choose the coop during the day, theyll keepneach other company when egg laying time come but thats it. I started building a bigger coop thinkng they hated their prefab one but didnt get to finish before the cold came. Its also on the patio if they wanna use it. To perch or observe the yard. They dontt sem happy. They're in the spot on the porch by the basement window where they always hang out, behind the cat tree i thought they eventually use for hopping on. i put the heating pad on the ground next to the 2x4 they stand on. Idk theyre definitely not roaming the frozen yard. And theyre scared of the huddle box

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

Regarding your huddle box, of they would be better inside it, you may have to pick them up and put them inside. When I want them to do something safer, sometimes I need to "make" them a few times until they understand. It may mean blocking the exit until they get used to it.

 

[Chickeeaholic]

Their coop door is open all day because the nest box is in there. No food or water in there tho, thats in the lil tiny run area below the coop. But they NEVER choose the coop during the day, theyll keepneach other company when egg laying time come but thats it. I started building a bigger coop thinkng they hated their prefab one but didnt get to finish before the cold came. Its also on the patio if they wanna use it. To perch or observe the yard. They dontt sem happy. They're in the spot on the porch by the basement window where they always hang out, behind the cat tree i thought they eventually use for hopping on. i put the heating pad on the ground next to the 2x4 they stand on. Idk theyre definitely not roaming the frozen yard. And theyre scared of the huddle box

I wonder if you gave them treats in the huddle box would they warm up to the idea?

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

Regarding older/smaller/molting hens that get preferential treatment, since these are not children you can have favorites as long as the "least" favorite one is still safe and well cared for. We all have one that makes our hearts soft. You never regret spoiling her once she is gone, you always wish you had spoiled her more

 

[Hope4Hennsyvania]

I wonder if you gave them treats in the huddle box would they warm up to the idea?

Haha I tried i made a path of cracked corn and bread slices leading to a mealworm & seed brick anything IN the box is still there and they returned to the spot near the brick wall
Gahh

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

I wonder if you gave them treats in the huddle box would they warm up to the idea?

Mine would steal your treats and then go back where they were (bad girls! But smart... I can't fault them for outwitting me)

 

[Chickeeaholic]

Regarding older/smaller/molting hens that get preferential treatment, since these are not children you can have favorites as long as the "least" favorite one is still safe and well cared for. We all have one that makes our hearts soft. You never regret spoiling her once she is gone, you always wish you had spoiled her more

I feel bad for the others so they all get spoiled almost as much. My favorite one is why my chickens went from livestock to pets, she is a good advocate for all chickendom.

 

[nuthatched]

Haha I tried i made a path of cracked corn and bread slices leading to a mealworm & seed brick anything IN the box is still there and they returned to the spot near the brick wall
Gahh

Chickens take awhile to get used to change, they may or may not ever use the box. Easy on the carbs for now, they need a little more carbs in winter than summer but not much more.

 

[Chickeeaholic]

Haha I tried i made a path of cracked corn and bread slices leading to a mealworm & seed brick anything IN the box is still there and they returned to the spot near the brick wall
Gahh

Oh no, sneaky buggers lol. You might have to resort to force tactics after all.