How cold can chickens take?

[pattee]

My hens are in their coop with a heater set at 50 degree's. I was wondering what others do and how cold you all think chickens take?
Thanks!

 

[gritsar]

Take a look at this thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=111451&p=1

 

[waynesgarden]

My chickens are unheated in Western Maine. At 3 degress the other day, they were out scratchin in the snow looking for some corn they thought might be there.

When it gets really cold, they stay inside the coop.

Unplug the heater. You are throwing money away by heating a coop in a climate that never needs it.

Wayne

 

[Chicken Woman]

That depends on how cold it is in the coop !

20 below here last nite ! I finally broke down and put up a red light as my RIR have black tips on combs

 

[lizard7]

5 degrees this morning, warmed up to 11. Had to take water out to the coop every couple of hours. Still, got an egg from each of my girls. Heat lamps are on and the coop is filled with straw, don't know what else I can do.

 

[BJ]

Here is another good thread to check out

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=97134

 

[Catalina]

-40 outside here. (with the windchill)
With the heater, red heat light and roost heat pad turned on the coop is around 20.
The water freezes and I have to change it, but the girls don't seem too upset.
They have warm feet and full crops.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I have my chickens in an uninsulated barn. It is going down to -12C tonight (don't know what that is in Fahrenheit). I do NOT have a heat lamp on, my girls are still laying regularly, and all is well with the world. They have lotsa feathers to keep them warm.

 

[CityChook]

Hi Catalina - I'm in MN too -

It's going to be -20 tonight - that's real temp, not wind chill (which is expected to be -40). Skies are clear and it will be very cold. Today, during the warmest, sunniest part of the day, it was -1.

I have one 250 watt heat light and it keeps the coop about 10 degrees warmer than the outdoor temp. That's not going to help me too much tonight. I'm very glad that I built the coop with insulation, sealed up most all of the drafts and have plenty of deep litter. Still, my heart breaks. My DH has forbidden me from bringing them inside tonight (I only have 4), tho I did ask. I'm sure they will be fine, but man, that's COLD.

Personally, I don't think you need heat in Seattle. Chickens are tougher than I originally gave them credit for. That said, I still wouldn't go with an unheated coop here in MN...

 

[pattee]

Well I'm leaving my heater on tonight and the 200 wt bulb...
My chickens won't come out at all! Not to peck in the snow, or even look around... one feel of the wind and they are back in the coop!

Tomorrow I'll turn the heater off and see how they do.

Mine also are still laying eggs, not as many but still laying!