How cold is TOO cold for a chicken?

[Douza]

Thank you for your suggestions. I had not thought about the light shortening the hens egg laying days. Good point. Thank you

 

[andidebb]

Mine choose to sleep in the outside of the tractor part and only go in when it goes into the low 20's. They seem happiest in temps between 40-60. Once into the 70's they start to pant and slow down.

My chickens have been roosting outside in the cold will they go in on their own if they get cold?

 

[andidebb]

My chickens are choosing to sleep outside in the cold. 30's, upper 20's tonight. Will they go inside if they get cold? How cold is too cold for them to stay out?

 

[Beekissed]

They will let you know. If they get too cold they will seek shelter and they will most likely seek shelter when the winds blow or for rainy/snowy nights.

 

[bruceh]

I have had birds roost on a fence post in the middle of a blizzard. depends on the birds. when it is snowing and cold out. i look at those birds and mudder, idiots.

 

[Hedwig]

I put all the little ones out this weekend and they are doing fine as it drops into the 20's

 

[Hedwig]

so now I have the chicks outside and they are allowed to go out into the run but they don't come back in at night. How do you train them to do so?

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

so now I have the chicks outside and they are allowed to go out into the run but they don't come back in at night. How do you train them to do so?

Where do they go? They're chickens--it's their instinct to find a place to sleep at night.

When you put youngsters into the coop for the first time, they won't automatically go back there. They'll go where they are most familiar. It's very common to have to catch them and put them where you want them for a week or so until they get where they're supposed to be. You can help them know where they're supposed to be by locking them in the coop for five days or so, and then letting them out only in the evening at first so that they stay close to the coop as night falls.

 

[Hedwig]

Quote: ok thank you they all huddle together under the ramp into the coop or under the coop itself ok I think we will try that thank you

 

[birdmann420]

Northern Ohio. 8 White Plymouth Rock Hens.
Had these birds since late spring as day olds.
The girls have been laying for a few months now and have been properly acclimated to the weather.
They free range everyday, and sometimes im surprise to see them out in the wind and cold.
They are large hens now and have a draft free coop, and straws bales to roost on at night.
The lows right now are in the teens and they seem more comfortable than when its in the 40's.
No heat lights! I do have a low watt light bulb to extend their eating hours. It only runs 2 .5 hours at night, 1 hour in the morning.
I do this to increase their feed and increase their own body heat.
Heat lamps only interupt their natually ability to resist temperature extremes and makes the bird weaker and less resistant.
Draft Free, Ventilation, and Properally Acclimated.