How cold is too cold at night?

[gretchen22]

I live in Wisconsin. The weather is starting to hit 20 degree nights. So far my 4 girls are doing great! They are still laying one egg a day. They don't seem cold. Should I worry about it hitting the 20's or teens at night?

 

[mgbantams]

You should watch for frostbite on their combs. If it gets really cold, you may consider putting a heat lamp in their coop.
My full sized hens usually do fine in the winter, but my bantams have to spend the winter indoors.

 

[lazy gardener]

A coop that is big enough, and that is well ventilated should bring your birds through the winter without any supplemental heat. Temp here in Central Maine regularly goes below 0*F and stays there for days and nights at a time. The only time I offer supplemental heat is if my birds are showing signs of hypothermia: they are not moving as much, and they actually eat less, when they should actually be eating more. Recommended: 4 s.f. open space in coop/bird, ventilation: 1 s.f./bird or 10% of floor space. Ventilation should be placed such that it does not create any breezes for them as they perch at night. Louvered vents are great. Consider multi level venting, take advantage of windows, eaves, and gable ends for vent placement.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

In really cold conditions, what is important is ventilation. Making sure the air stays dry. Because it is humid air that settles and freezes on combs. Beyond that, the chickens are wearing nice down jackets that cover their feet while they roost. 20's and teens shouldn't be a problem for healthy birds.

I wouldn't do heat. Makes it seem colder when they have to adjust away from it. Better to be acclimated.

 

[azygous]

I'm in a place that gets down below zero at night on occasion. I have a rule of thumb for when I jump in with a tiny bit of heat at night for the coops, and that's when the temps are forecast to go down into the teens.

I use oil-filled electric heaters in the coops set on the lowest possible heat setting. They are thermostatically controlled to maintain that level, and they manage to keep the coops just above freezing. I do it mostly for my convenience, though, chickens being more than able to withstand freezing cold. It makes it easier to clean the coops.

The important thing if you're going to use heat is first to use a heating device that is safe and can't start fires or injure chickens. The second is to provide good ventilation so air can move freely to prevent condensation which causes frostbite.

However, no matter what you do, some chickens with large combs are more likely to get frostbite. My rooster is subject to frostbite due to his large comb so he gets greased up with Bag Balm. Two winters back he lost all of his magnificent "points" to frostbite during a prolonged single digit spell of freezing cold.

For the most part, chickens do well with no heat at all. As long as you provide them with enough of the right kind of calories and proper nutrition, they generate their own heat very efficiently.

 

[aart]

Heat is rarely needed in a well designed coop.
Ventilation is key...lots of air but no strong(literally feather ruffling) drafts.
Do you have a plan to keep water liquid?

 

[gretchen22]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

In really cold conditions, what is important is ventilation. Making sure the air stays dry. Because it is humid air that settles and freezes on combs. Beyond that, the chickens are wearing nice down jackets that cover their feet while they roost. 20's and teens shouldn't be a problem for healthy birds.

I wouldn't do heat. Makes it seem colder when they have to adjust away from it. Better to be acclimated.

Heat is rarely needed in a well designed coop.
Ventilation is key...lots of air but no strong(literally feather ruffling) drafts.
Do you have a plan to keep water liquid?

I was going to get a warmer for their water. I haven't had to worry about it yet. THanks for your advice. Their coop is pretty well designed for ventilation. It was 26 degrees this morning and they were all ready to play outside. That has to be good right?

 

[azygous]

Freezing temps aren't the issue. Chickens can do single digits standing on their heads. (Wouldn't you love to see them do that?) It's relative humidity that is your enemy.

Heat introduced into freezing air produces water vapor that will condense on surfaces when the air doesn't move. That results in freezing of exposed living tissue, combs and feet. Frostbite injures and destroys tissue and the blisters are very, very painful.

As long as you have air that circulates freely, yet no chilling breezes, you will have far less chance of frostbite.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Chickens can do single digits standing on their heads. (Wouldn't you love to see them do that?)

YES!

 

[gretchen22]

YES!

Thanks so much! I'm gearing up for 20mph winds tomorrow and a low of 19 degrees. I have tarps up to shield the wind. I appreciate all your advice!