Girls are roosting outside just when it starts getting cold? Help!

[Bantam bell Wood]

The first snow fell in southern Maine yesterday and when I went to close the coop up, all four girls were sleeping on the roost in the run. I figured it was due to confusion, having never seen snow before, having part of the run wrapped in tarp, etc. I put all four sleeping beauties in the coop and made sure they were all up on the roost.

Tonight, no new snow, but all four girls again are sleeping on the outdoor rooster. No tarp wrap, nothing different except white stuff on the ground outdoors.

I’m worried bc tomorrow afternoon and Friday the temperatures plunge well below zero if there’s even the breath of a breeze.

Any ideas about why this is happening?

Should I just wrap the run and call it the extended winter coop? The roost in the coop is a 1x4.

I don’t have any current pictures of the outside run, but can say that the roost is only 2, maybe 2 1/2 inches wide. I haven’t gotten that modified yet.

Hoping for some shared wisdom and guidance.

Thank you.

 

[Anon112]

If they are well blocked from any wind, they should be okay.

 

[Bantam bell Wood]

If they are well blocked from any wind, they should be okay.

I can leave them OUTDOORS in the run if I wrap in a way to prevent wind (and of course provide safe air flow)?

 

[Bantam bell Wood]

If they are well blocked from any wind, they should be okay.

I don’t understand why they are interested in the outdoors, just when the temperature is dipping below freezing.

 

[Bantam bell Wood]

If they are well blocked from any wind, they should be okay.

PS. Thank you for sound advice. I appreciate the insight. I’m a first time chicken keeper, slowly gaining confidence. I hope wherever you are, you’re enjoying the cold weather and long nights as much as me.

 

[Anon112]

PS. Thank you for sound advice. I appreciate the insight. I’m a first time chicken keeper, slowly gaining confidence. I hope wherever you are, you’re enjoying the cold weather and long nights as much as me.

Chickens are pretty hardy in the cold, but they are vulnerable to frostbite if the wind blows on them. If you can put up tarps or otherwise block the wind from blowing on them, they should be okay.

My hens slept in the coop I got for them for about a few weeks, then started sleeping on the roof of it. They've done so for the last 8 years. (Okay, at this point I have so many chickens that the coop is too small for them all).

But it is important to make sure they are well sheltered. This last winter I thought I'd done a good job, but I had clearly not because one of my roosters got really bad frostbite on his comb. My current project is a big roosting box where I can mount panels in the winter to block the wind, and then have it be more open air in the spring and summer months.

If you are worried or it is very cold I suppose you can make them go in the coop. You'll also want to keep an eye on their toes, combs, wattles, etc for signs of frostbite.

Admittedly I don't live where it gets as cold as Maine. Perhaps someone else who lives in colder temps can give you better advice.