How cold can a hen get?

[Rorie]

Hi,

We have had an automatic door on the coop since April.

Tonight I just so happened to hear a hen make a noise, went out, and two were standing outside the closed door! No idea why!!

We are going to check each night now obviously, but out of curiosity, how cold can it be before a hen is at risk, obviously without the shelter and flock to keep her warm.

It's been torrential rain, but she was dry. The coop is 1 foot off the ground so they shelter under there, but there are no bushes etc in the run

 

[foreverlearning]

Chickens were running wild long before we decided to build coops for them so if they are fully feathered and dry they should be fine. We are the ones that have issues with them being cold...I don't like mine being out either. Because the days are starting to get a little longer chickens are now trying to get every scrap of daylight they can. Your automatic door may be closing before they think it is dark enough to go in. I would be more worried about crafty predators at night then anything else.