Hens cold weather roosting

[jshakour]

My coop isn't anything special, I purchased it from Tractor Supply and modified the heck out of it and made it bigger.

I will try to post pics soon. I just did entire scrub down of the coop!

 

[aart]

My coop isn't anything special, I purchased it from Tractor Supply and modified the heck out of it and made it bigger.

I will try to post pics soon. I just did entire scrub down of the coop!

How many birds?
Those small coops can be crowded and stuffy.......might be why they are roosting outside.

 

[jshakour]

5 hens, it is much bigger now and they are roosting in gen house now!!!!!

 

[GC-Raptor]

Ok so y next question....water in the winter. what techniques do you guys use to help the water from freezing?  

This is my setup, a homemade heated base with a thermo cube to turn on at 35F off at 45F.

GC

I just bought a 2 quart rubber bowl unheated for the pen at TSC.

 

[Spartan22]

Anyways the last few days most of our pullets are now perching inside the coop, they must be sensing winter is approaching soon. I didn't have to teach them. Like what I've said earlier I got 12' extra empty roost plus 4' older roost + another 12' roost that my older hens occupies.

On subject of water during winter, I replace 2 waterers in the run 2x a day. And the ones inside the coop has a metal base heater, that runs on thermostat that heats up when temp drops below freezing to keep my layers hydrated all the time.

 

[Mcatgirl]

I have 8 hens I'm in Northern Ohio. My coop is well insulated, I'm doing the deep litter method. I have the run wrapped in a tarp. They seem to be doing fine I normally let them free range but I'm afraid to it's been 10 degrees here but feels like -4. I haven't been letting them out of the run cause I'm afraid it's too cold. I normally open the door and let them out to play in the yard. What temperature is too cold to open the door and let them out?

 

[Mcatgirl]

For the water, I have an electric water bowl, I love it! And the girls do too.

I've seen some people use an old tire, insulate it, put a black rubber water bowl in it with a few ping pong balls, they swear by it, I have yet to try it.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My girls stay put around 20 Fahrenheit. They don't move much, just sit and stay under coop. They are full size pullets 37 weeks old. I would say above 32 Fahrenheit is a safe bet for full size, full grown chickens. Older or bantams I don't have experience with. GC