Does anyone let their chickens sleep outside?

[Cattle dog Mom]

In a secure run? I am also talking about "letting" them if they choose, rather than "forcing" them into a "hen house" during the hot months. I have been considering using an existing "building" as a "coop". Works great in the cooler weather. (Currently use it for my turkeys.) But it does get hot in there in the summer. Increasing cross ventilation really isn't an option due to the way it is constructed. With the current cost of lumber, I am really trying not to have to spend $9457864 on a new structure. Especially since I have never HAD chickens before and therefor not 100% sure it will be something I will want to do "forever".

 

[Jack3291]

Well if its not too cold and theres no way for them to escape or be eaten then I think you could.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Well if its not too cold and theres no way for them to escape or be eaten then I think you could.

Well 8oF + probably isn't too cold. But what IS too cold? We often have a 20 or 30 degree temp change between dark and daylight.

 

[CraftyHen]

The chickens in my main coop can choose to go in coop or stay in the run overnight. The door from the coop itself to the run is a regular size doorway which used to have a door but now is a pair of curtains. Most will roost inside but I have 2 who insist on staying in the run, even in winter. (It is mostly covered in plastic to keep wind out). The coop/run is predator proof and is also inside a fenced area. My 2nd coop is not in a fenced area and the run is not as predator savvy as I'd like, so those gals do get locked up into their coop.

 

[CraftyHen]

Well 8oF + probably isn't too cold. But what IS too cold? We often have a 20 or 30 degree temp change between dark and daylight.

We recently had temps in -20s F and all my chickens were fine.

 

[JimnRuth]

I made an enclosed run attached to the coop and they'd rather sleep out there than in the coop. I put plastic on 3 walls to keep the wind off them during the winter. It is secure so no worries. One real cold night they went into the coop a couple of days ago. I have a fenced in yard for them to run around in, and occasionally let them run wild like today. They will sleep where they want to.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

We recently had temps in -20s F and all my chickens were fine.

Yeah, I know they are much better with cold than heat. I just didn't know if that much of a temp drop would bother them if there was also any wind. I'm not necessarily talking about 40mph wind. But we very often DO get up to 20 or 30MPH wind with NO warning. (No warning as in it will say 5 to 7 mph winds on the forecast, yet it ends up MUCH higher than that!

 

[NatJ]

If it's predator proof, and has a roof to keep off rain, I would just let them choose.

I just didn't know if that much of a temp drop would bother them if there was also any wind. I'm not necessarily talking about 40mph wind. But we very often DO get up to 20 or 30MPH wind with NO warning. (No warning as in it will say 5 to 7 mph winds on the forecast, yet it ends up MUCH higher than that!

Wire mesh will break up the wind somewhat, so inside the run won't be quite as bad as outside. For the summer, the wind is probably not a problem unless it's blowing the chickens themselves around. Chickens are reasonably good about going into a sheltered place if they need to.

If the wind usually comes from a particular direction, maybe you could put something on just that side to block it--tarp or plywood or siding or whatever else is available. Even the empty bags chicken food came in could block wind, although I'm not sure how you'd keep them from blowing away.

 

[CraftyHen]

Yeah, I know they are much better with cold than heat. I just didn't know if that much of a temp drop would bother them if there was also any wind. I'm not necessarily talking about 40mph wind. But we very often DO get up to 20 or 30MPH wind with NO warning. (No warning as in it will say 5 to 7 mph winds on the forecast, yet it ends up MUCH higher than that!

We can get some crazy wind too esp spring /summer. The gals who prefer to still sleep out in run. And there is no plastic up other than winter. I think they would be ok as long as it wasnt a bitter North wind.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

If it's predator proof, and has a roof to keep off rain, I would just let them choose.



Wire mesh will break up the wind somewhat, so inside the run won't be quite as bad as outside. For the summer, the wind is probably not a problem unless it's blowing the chickens themselves around. Chickens are reasonably good about going into a sheltered place if they need to.

If the wind usually comes from a particular direction, maybe you could put something on just that side to block it--tarp or plywood or siding or whatever else is available. Even the empty bags chicken food came in could block wind, although I'm not sure how you'd keep them from blowing away.

Rain... HAHAHAHAH (I live in the high desert. We had lese than 7 inches of rain all 12 months last year.) But I do plan on a roof over part of the run.

Wind comes from the north, west or south. (As well as NW, NE, SE ect...) LOL Depends on the moment. (Not even on the DAY as we often get wind from more than one direction on the same day.)

Does shade cloth further "break up" wind? (Never used it, but I would think SO.) As I will also be needing to put up SOMETHING for shade, preferable that doesn't also trap heat. Just doing my typical over thinking! LOL