Going inside when cold/snowing?

[kayri]

Thanks Ella, great pics of the frostbitten combs. I'm sorry to hear that the Vaseline thing doesn't work, I was feeling so much more relaxed after I had put it on.

When you say below zero, you mean zero farenheit and not celsius right? We rarely go below zero farenheit here. I think I'd put them in the basement if it got that cold. I don't have electricity in the coop but am hoping they will do allright

 

[ella]

Yes, that's below zero fahrenheit

How well they do in the cold has a lot to do with their breed. Bantams and light breeds like leghorns don't do as well as standard size and large fowl.

I notice that my Black Giants stay out twice as long as the other breeds. My EE roosters on the other hand will come in every 15 minutes to a half an hour to sit in the bedding under the heater and warm up.

Mine have always had the sense to take care of themselves, but I still check on them!

If you're worried, you can tell if they're cold by feeling their feet. I do this at night about 15 minutes after they've gone to roost. If the feet are warm they are too.

 

[valmom]

Mine are also in the wimpy camp. We open the pop door every day and they come out on the ramp, look at the snow and go back inside! I don't think they've been outside for days. They know when they've got it good.

 

[foamspoon]

I have a new worry now a big nasty hawk tried to attack them yesterday. I am afraid he will be back. Those hawks are pretty tough, I hit him with rocks and a wiffle ball and it did not phase him. He just flew higher to another tree. I think he finally got tired of me stalking him and he left after an hour of me throwing stuff at him.

Bryan

 

[cknmom]

We have one hen that likes the rain. We got snow Friday night. One came out briefly, I don't know if it was a hen or roo. All the rest stayed inside all day. Last winter (our first with chickens)we were not freeranging them.This year they are usually outside all day. If the weather will be bad or we are having wildfires near us they stay in. They fluff up and stick close together.

Monica