How Cold Before I Make Hens Sleep Inside Coop?

[chickeepoo]

From the earlier post below, it sounds like hens like to roost outside in the weather sometimes even when the temperature drops, but how cold do I let it get before I insist they stay inside the coop at night? I figure they must be smart to a point about this…
Tonight it will be around 39˚ with a wind chill factor of 33˚- when do I lay down the law for their own good?

 

[mlmadura]

It's gonna be 33 here tonight I just went outside and threw the ladies in their coop and closed the door

 

[chickeepoo]

Thanks- We're in Fl, and they're RIR's, supposed to be cold hardy but I didn't know to what temp… no snow, but it can get cold. I guess I can check on them and throw them indoors if it looks like they're too cold.

My friend originally from Washington State leaves her hens out in the trees here in FL and doesn't worry about it. I guess I'm more involved in my chickens' lives.

 

[Akane]

If you don't want to risk losing them to predators and being too cold you should make them roost in the coop every night. Chickens don't like to break their routine. They will roost in the same spot sometimes irregardless of the weather or what's going on. If you put them in the coop now and insist on it every night they will go in the coop every night on their own and you won't have to worry about them again.

 

[digitS']

I have what some call a "sun porch" on my coop. The other half of the building is enclosed, insulated, and lighted.

The pullets have spent almost the entire 5 months of their lives on the sun porch (except for time running around on the lawn). The chicken door to the enclosed room was closed. I have been trying to encourage them to move into the warm part of the coop for over 2 weeks, now. It has been freezing here essentially every night over that time.

They have sat on their roost in the sun porch and looked at the light coming thru the chicken door. I put their food at the door first, then moved it inside. Next, I put their water at the door and then moved it inside.

For 2 weeks, they have had to enter the room for their food and water and I have been giving them a treat just before sundown and sneaking up and closing the chicken door behind them. If I forgot the treat until after it was dark - they'd roost outside and look at the light coming thru the chicken door. I would pick them up and push them slowly out of the darkness thru the door and into the light.

Finally!! Last night, they were standing around waiting for me in the nice comfortable, well-lit room waiting for their treat about 1/2 hour after sundown. Back in there waiting for me tonight - finally!

They can take a lot of cold but up here near 49° North, I was surprised that they were willing to sit out in the darkness when a lighted room was about 2 feet from the end of their nose

. Sunset today was officially at 5:34 pm.

Steve

 

[DaKid]

I still have a few Bantams and a few layers sleeping out side and the nights have been getting colder I catch them in around 7pm-8pm and recheck them at 11 pm when i take the dogs out for there last run of the night and there back out so I say they know best , when the temp .get down to the low 30's or 20's then the run doors get close up at nigth at dust

 

[spook]

I would think in any climate tucking them into the coop is habit. Then there is no upset when you do begin placing them inside. From biting bugs in summer to cold in winter, don't start what your going to have to stop or think about changing.