Do I need heat?

[mraymond]

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.

I have to chuckle as I think sometimes my chickens aren't that smart when I see them out in cold, wind and rain.... hahaha There is definitely good ventilation. I may just worry too much

 

[Ridgerunner]

I took this photo when it was +4 Fahrenheit, back in 2013. It had been colder that morning but it warmed up some by the time I brought my camera down. I leave the pop door open and let them decide what they want to do. If a cold wind is blowing they stay out of the wind. It wasn't windy that morning, you can see what they decided.

You can see ice on the ground from where I'd emptied their waterer. It had been below freezing a few days. You don't see piles of bedding in the run. You don't see anything blocking the wind but creating a wind protected area is a pretty good idea, especially if your coop is kind of small. Mine really don't like a cold wind. But as far as straight cold goes, they don't mind.

 

[MissMonty]

I have to chuckle as I think sometimes my chickens aren't that smart when I see them out in cold, wind and rain.... hahaha There is definitely good ventilation. I may just worry too much

You may not think they're smart but they're better equipt for the cold than we think Only a few exceptions with some less hardy breeds. Most tolerate cold just fine! Even in really northern climates

 

[WindingRoad]

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

I would open a door to let them out. Let then decide if it's too cold. Right now we are starting mud season here in Maine so there are a lot of puddles. They don't like to walk in the water too much so the skirt the puddles and walk on low snow. If they get cold they will go inside the coop. Also when they go in my birds jump on the roosts and cover their feet. Think about seagulls in that cold ocean water. And any wild birds you may have around. I live in Maine below 0F many days and nights. Not so much this year.

Chickens have 2 "coats" just as some dogs do. And undercoat of down and their feathers. Sometimes you will see them fluff up their feathers and that traps their body heat. Chickens run around 106F much warmer than our 98.6F. Put your hands under a wing and see how warm it is in there. And if you find a hen in a nesting box reach under them and it's toasty under there. That's how they hatch chicks. Warm under there. Don't worry just keep the wind away. Wrap your coop in a tarp and any open run. No drafts. Keep your ventilation high up. Heat rises. If your coop walls have frost or feel wet you don't have enough ventilation. I noticed my curtains on the nest boxes were damp this winter so I added some more ventilation. Good luck. Be happy don't worry.

 

[cgaylemedders]

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

I have Frizzle Cochin Bantams that lack proper insulation against cold or heat, so have a heated coop that I leave open. They will go in the coop when they get cold and return to the roost when they are warm enough with the rest of the flock. I do not lock the coop as they are in a secured run with exterior roosts.