Do I need heat?

[mraymond]

Hi there, my first winter with my girls. It's currently 16 degrees outside with a real feel of 5. It is going to be getting colder over the next few days with a couple days in single digits. My coop is fully closed in, except for vents at top, not insulated but girls have a thick layer of bedding, some cardboard under straw in the next boxes for extra insulation, a tarp over nesting box side as I think there was an air leak there. I have kept them inside the coop all day. So 2 Questions? Can I let them out in these cold temperatures during the day if they can access their coop. The coop does NOT stay above freezing so I am afraid they will be too cold once the days get colder. Should I add a flat brooder heater for a couple hours a day to help raise the temperature inside before dark. If so when the girls are closed in or let them access the run, though I don't see how that would keep the heat in.

WORRIED Chicken Mama. I searched the threads but need some advise on making sure they don't freeze

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Chickens tend to die from excessive heat, not cold.
Your temps are similar to ours. The adult chickens of most breeds will have no problem surviving. As long as you aren't raising extremely fragile breeds, you're OK.
My only concern from your description is the possible lack of sufficient ventilation.
Go ahead and let them out.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As long as your aren't raising extremely fragile breeds, you're OK.
My only concern from your description is the possible lack of sufficient ventilation.
Go ahead and let them out.

x2. Also locking them in can cause behavioral issues due to boredom and crowding. You didn't mention how big your coop is, but if you have less than 6 sq ft per standard chicken inside and under 1 sq ft of open 24/7 vents per bird, you don't have enough space or ventilation to be locking them in.

 

[aart]

The coop does NOT stay above freezing so I am afraid they will be too cold once the days get colder.

As it shouldn't.
Temps, and especially humidity, should be about the same inside and outside the coop.
The first winter is tough...until you realize just how tough the birds are.

Dimensions and pics of your coop and run, inside and out, would help immensely here.
Also, how many birds.

Would also help to know @mraymond ....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[mraymond]

Chickens tend to die from excessive heat, not cold.
Your temps are similar to ours. The adult chickens of most breeds will have no problem surviving. As long as your aren't raising extremely fragile breeds, you're OK.
My only concern from your description is the possible lack of sufficient ventilation.
Go ahead and let them out.

It has vents across the top at the roof level, those are not blocked and a good size, its protected from wind on most side due to there outbuildings. I'm gonna try and make/add a water heater after work today and increase their layer of bedding/straw in the bottom. I only lost 1 degree last night so that is positive since it dropped 8 outside.

 

[mraymond]

Chickens tend to die from excessive heat, not cold.
Your temps are similar to ours. The adult chickens of most breeds will have no problem surviving. As long as your aren't raising extremely fragile breeds, you're OK.
My only concern from your description is the possible lack of sufficient ventilation.
Go ahead and let them out.

There are vents along the roof line of the coop. They are Golden Comets so not extremely fragile

 

[mraymond]

x2. Also locking them in can cause behavioral issues due to boredom and crowding. You didn't mention how big your coop is, but if you have less than 6 sq ft per standard chicken inside and under 1 sq ft of open 24/7 vents per bird, you don't have enough space or ventilation to be locking them in.

I figured a couple hours outside would be good, I am going to cover their run with straw today so they have something under their feet other than the frozen 11 degree ground currently

 

[mraymond]

As it shouldn't.
Temps, and especially humidity, should be about the same inside and outside the coop.
The first winter is tough...until you realize just how tough the birds are.

Dimensions and pics of your coop and run, inside and out, would help immensely here.
Also, how many birds.

Would also help to know @mraymond ....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2527005

Added location, SW MO, 6 birds, over 1 sf of ventilation, lightly insulated roof, probably about 24sf of space, its 4x6 with 2 roosting bars, than the nesting area is a off to the side, I would get photos except I'm currently working.. So can't get them till later.. Its a fully sealed coop except for ventilation at the top, they have "windows" in the summer but those are blocked now for cold.. Outside fenced in run area when I'm not letting them free range, was figuring I'd layer a nice layer of straw throughout the run and cover part with a tarp so they can be outside but not on the cold ground. Gonna add a hanging cabbage to the covered run so they have something to do. Been giving them scratch before bed as I've heard that is a good way to get metabolism moving and help with warmth. Also gonna build/install a water heater later today so I can avoid the every 2 hr walk to break ice...

 

[aart]

Added location, SW MO, 6 birds, over 1 sf of ventilation, lightly insulated roof, probably about 24sf of space, its 4x6 with 2 roosting bars, than the nesting area is a off to the side, I would get photos except I'm currently working.. So can't get them till later.. Its a fully sealed coop except for ventilation at the top, they have "windows" in the summer but those are blocked now for cold.. Outside fenced in run area when I'm not letting them free range, was figuring I'd layer a nice layer of straw throughout the run and cover part with a tarp so they can be outside but not on the cold ground.

Looking forward to pics.
Yes, wind break on run wall would be good.

 

[MissMonty]

You shouldn't need heat as long as there is good ventilation. Bad ventilation leads to frost bite. I'd let them in and out as they please. My girls don't go out on the coldest windy days but they have the option if they want to.