How cold is TOO cold for a chicken?

[BoyankaTheBuff]

That's not a bad idea....some folks feed suet cakes to their winter cooped birds. I've done it here also, though just in the past few years. I also add BOSS to the feed mix in the winter months for additional fats....those look a little like bugs, so the birds grab those first out of the feed.

Another thing that may be helpful when thinking about next year's winter coop....a nice deep litter system in the coop and run. My birds find bugs and such in their DL even in the coldest parts of winter...bugs hiding out in that stuff for warmth and food. A busy bird is a calm bird.

This vid was taken in the winter during single digit temps and right after some teens below zero weather....you can see the birds are busy, happy and coming and going in and out of the coop at will, even with snow on the ground. The DL keeps them more occupied and gives them somewhere to hunt and also to dust in the winter months. Sorry for the poor quality of the narrative and vid but it can give you some idea about DL.

Wow, thanks for taking the time to give us a tour. So cool to see what an established deep litter system looks like from all angles. Looks like a real nice setup. The birds seem so calm and happy!

 

[Koitoy]

I can't do the deep litter method in my barn, I have a wooden floor. I'm afraid the composting litter would also rot out the 2x4s that frames my barn. This barn was expensive to have built. So, I have to use shavings and straw.

 

[BoyankaTheBuff]

Koitoy, you could try a rubberized coating on the floor and lower part of the walls to protect the wood. I used Blackjack #57 which was recommended by several people on this forum. It hardly had a smell at all during application, and once it is dry it makes a nice thick coating and a good seal against moisture.

 

[mobius]

I can't do the deep litter method in my barn, I have a wooden floor. I'm afraid the composting litter would also rot out the 2x4s that frames my barn. This barn was expensive to have built. So, I have to use shavings and straw.

Can you do it in their run? Also, people coat their wood floor in the coop with a black rubber roll-on substance or apply a heavy vinyl to it...that is what is in my coop. When I fully clean it (twice a year) I hose the whole thing out with water....there seems always to be a good work-around...and the litter goes into the run and disappears by chicken magic! Looks like a lovely coop you have there! Done properly, I don't see why it would rot the floor, come to think of it...

 

[mobius]

Double post...

 

[Beekissed]

Koitoy, you could try a rubberized coating on the floor and lower part of the walls to protect the wood. I used Blackjack #57 which was recommended by several people on this forum. It hardly had a smell at all during application, and once it is dry it makes a nice thick coating and a good seal against moisture.

That's a good idea even if one is not using DL, especially if you are using any bedding at all, as usually a person only changes that bedding out when it's too saturated with feces..too damp from it all.

DL is never THAT damp, that it would rot out timbers below a wooden floor. If I had a wooden floor in my current coop, I'd merely waterproof in some manner right under my roosts...that's where I keep all the composting going and where most of the moisture can be found. Waterproofing that area could be a complicated as painting on a sealant or as simple as heavy mil plastic tacked down on the floor prior to starting the DL.

 

[FlyWheel]

Koitoy, you could try a rubberized coating on the floor and lower part of the walls to protect the wood. I used Blackjack #57 which was recommended by several people on this forum. It hardly had a smell at all during application, and once it is dry it makes a nice thick coating and a good seal against moisture.

Not sure I would want that stuff anywhere they may peck at it...http://www.gardner-gibson.com/Media...roof-repair/6080-9-30(sds4-2015).pdf?sfvrsn=0

 

[CuzChickens]

I have some hens in breeding pens that are not covered, they are hoop house chicken tractor that have a tarp on one end and a heat lamp in the corner with temps not getting below 10 but a windchill that could dip to 0 at times. Should I be worried?

Forgot to mention that breeds are White Leghorn, Black Australorp, and Buff Orpington.

 

[juanmbravo]

I'm continually amazed by how many people keep insisting on heat lamps, despite constant assurances on the lack of need. When people from Alaska, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and the like are not using them, that should tell you right there!

When you have cold hardy breeds, you have nothing to worry about. These birds are considerably tougher than you could ever imagine, and they know how to survive and adapt. When they've been raised all through the year, nature sets them up for survival, if they're healthy.

I live in Gaylord, MI. Lots of snow, lots of cold, lots of wind. This is my first year of chickens, and this site, along with constant observation and interaction, has taught me lots of information. I haven't had a single problem with my birds yet. Two have been moulting, and even on the -25 base temps days; not a problem. They'll eat snow, huddle together and generally just do what they need to, in order to satisfy their needs. 

Please don't take this the wrong way, nor view me as a know-it-all. Far from any of that. I just really paid attention and go by what my birds tell me. I've also read and read and read about chickens. I'm quite satisfied by what I've learned and gained since March of this past year. Next year, will be even better for my girls. Enjoy your birds everyone!

Totally agree with you on this. I have 8 chickens that are 7 mo. And 3 that are 5 mo. And all have been doing fine in this artic blast we are getting. It was 7F this morning. I purposely chose cold hardy breeds. Buff orpiingtons, barred Rocks, Buckeys and 2 Buff brahma bantams. I have well built 6x8' coop and decided not to put a heater inside. It's not even insulated just a thick layer of pine shavings on the floor. To keep moisture down I cracked the roof vent open just a bit and the pop door I left cracked open as well. In fact on two nights it was in the teens i just left the pop door open (I have a 20x25' fenced in run with deer netting covering it all). On the days I left the door open they were all out and running around before sunrise. It was 18F and they didn't seem to care. I put hay down to cover some 6" of snow on the ground but they really don't seem to care either way. The only time they were hiding in the straw under the coop was when the winds were howling at lunch yesterday with wind chill near zero but they all came out when I offered mealworms. They stayed out after that until they went in for the night. Today it was 7F and they were running around just fine. I've been layering up with hat, scarves and everything and I'm still freezing. Even my dogs hate it but the chicks don't seem to care. They've stayed outside of the coop all day! My advice would be not to pamper them. They'll be fine. My only problem had been keeping the water from freezing (which I keep OUTSIDE the coop to keep keep moisture down) but I solved it with a 50 watt bird bath heater in their plastic drinker. Even at 7F water was not warm but warmer than freezing... cool to the touch.

 

[Koitoy]

We went down to -24 below last week and the Silkies did just fine. No heat lamps or anything.Yes, I was worried. And I was ready to bring all 6 of them in the house if they were showing any signs of cold stress. But they did fine. If my Silkies can do it here in Mn. your chickens can do it too.