How cold is TOO cold for a chicken?

[TeaLady]

For keeping the water from freezing, we are using a submersible aquarium heater (with an auto-shutoff if the water level drops too low). It made the difference between a solid block of ice and (on a colder night) a bucket of cold water.

Our waterer is a 5 gallon bucket with steel/plastic nipple valves in the bottom. They tend to get a little ice seal over the valve even before the rest of the water freezes.

 

[Mrs MIA]

I have now given up on keeping the water from freezing. I take out fresh water 3-4 times a day now. The heated base works great with the 3 gallon galvanized aluminum water font. It is currently -27°F outside, and only 8°F in the coop. The water in the font is not frozen. The birds are all doing fine.

Here's what we've had so far:
...and keep in mind, our summer was a cool one this year... only got over 65°F 3-4 times this summer, and then it cooled off slowly so my birds acclimated well over the span of about 8 weeks. There are about 25 full grown birds in the coop, and about 9 that are just under 12 weeks old. The coop is 8x8', and the ceiling slopes from 7' to 5' in the back. 2" R-19 foam-board insulation between 3/8" plywood. Deep litter. One window that swings up, doesn't seal shut. Two pop-doors, one on adjoining walls, covered with towels to cut the drafts.

~ At 0°F all birds stayed outside all day unless they were laying eggs.

~ At -10°F I still had birds that chose to sleep outside, but there was more in/out traffic to the coop.

~ At -15°F, birds were a little more hesitant to stay outside. But they would go out and scratch, then go back into the coop to warm up.

~ At -25°F/-31°C, only a few of the biggest birds ventured outside for brief periods of time. But for the most part, all birds stayed in the coop.

The only exception to this is that my chukar partridge are outside 100% of the time (it is a treat for them to find a way into the coop), and they have a hay-lined thick wooden box to huddle in located in a sheltered corner of the run. They seem to prefer being outside, and I see them running around the run at all temps so far.

My biggest challenge right now is keeping eggs from freezing.

We have not had a lot of wind lately, like Kodiak has, so these are not including any windchill factors (even though they aren't AS affected by windchills). The birds do tend to stay indoors more on the really windy days, just because it gets under their feathers. The only birds that I've really had to keep an eye on for frostbite are my single-combed Dorkings. Even in the breeder coop, which is completely draft-free, just cold, the tips of their combs are having issues. But that has only been when the coop has gotten down below about 14°F inside.

I have 5 of the almost-12 week old babies inside right now, because I noticed that they were showing signs of distress. One was pushed outside and got chilled, so I brought them into the garage which is heated to about 60°F. If you have young birds, very old birds, or very few birds, just watch them carefully for signs of distress. You'll know when it's time to add heat.

 

[momofdrew]

they are out daily except during the blizzards and the ice storms... we have only hit 0 once this winter so far...they dont really like the wind but that hasnt kept them from ranging...the huddle together for a while then range then huddle only a few times have they go into the coop during the day...except to lay eggs...my roo stays out all day...


Most days the coop is 20F-40F...with no drafts...the run is wrapped in clear plastic and I have snow heaped up around both...it stays comfortable in there...

 

[balticbabe]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

~ At 0°F all birds stayed outside all day unless they were laying eggs.

~ At -10°F I still had birds that chose to sleep outside, but there was more in/out traffic to the coop.

Wow I guess they can take the cold. I worry since my brother's banty froze to death one year when it was about 5°F. The banty spent the night in a bush rather than the coop with the rest.

My SO went through a lot of work to make a draft free, dry coop but the girls don't mind sleeping outside in the wind and sleet. When I get home from work at night I force them inside if they're out which is about half the time. It seems that as long as they're huddled together it's OK to be out in the cold. I hate to find out the hard way.​

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
Wow I guess they can take the cold. I worry since my brother's banty froze to death one year when it was about 5°F. The banty spent the night in a bush rather than the coop with the rest.

My SO went through a lot of work to make a draft free, dry coop but the girls don't mind sleeping outside in the wind and sleet. When I get home from work at night I force them inside if they're out which is about half the time. It seems that as long as they're huddled together it's OK to be out in the cold. I hate to find out the hard way.

Oh dear... no, one poor little banty won't stay warm enough by itself. I've had single birds kind of "pushed" out of the coop, and I'm careful to make sure the babies are inside. It's -30F and the only birds outside are the chukar partridges. I did finally add a 250w heat lamp to the layer coop because I have 12 week old babies out there on the floor. Even then I wound up bringing 5 of them in because they were too cold. I'd be happy with 0-5F above right now. Brrrrr! Time to bundle up and head out for the morning rounds... I swear they do better than I do!

 

[LynneP]

Yes, and wind chill is critical. Today in the coop it is -3C birds are active and eating, drinking. Outside it is -10C but wind chill takes it to -20C and in addition we have blizzard conditions with gusts to 90km/h. Even if it were warmer, and even with our snow boards installed, the birds could be killed or injured by being slammed against the sides of the roofed run.

Tibet, our alpha girl, led the flock up from the coop floor along a ramp shortly after I arrived. She gawked out the window, saw a ridge of snow on the outside platform, squawked and faced the others with a 'TUT-tut-nut-NUT-NUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT', pushed through them and led them down again. She has me so well trained you see and thought I'd open the pop door when she asked. I swear she was very relieved when I listened to her command NOT to!

But you find out, as Tori has noted, by studying your birds. Their breed, age, behavior, feathering, acquired tolerances...so it's important to have a coop interior big enough and interesting enough that they can exercise, feed/water and cope without aggression. Plus it's far nicer to gather eggs that are not frozen!

 

[Ricks Chicks]

I live in Massachusetts and no heat for my chickens. today it is 3 degrees and they are out and ok with the cold but don't like the snow.

 

[momofdrew]

I just put my birds back in their run cause the wind keeps closing the door on them and they could not reach their water if they wanted it... they dont seem too bothered by the snow or the cold... but the wind slows them down...the coop temp was 31 this morning when I opened it up...

 

[Portia]

My mama hen has just started taking her brood outside (my chickens free range). The little buggers are 4 weeks old tomorrow and were happy little critters out in the 19 degree temps this morning. They've been doing this for a couple days now and seem to really enjoy the fresh air. Because they have to warm up under mom with some frequency, I turn the light on in the coop at night so they have a little more time to bulk up on food before they go to sleep for the night...they seem to appreciate this.

 

[Kathy1]

I am in MA also, my 2 girls have not stepped outside all day. This is the coldest and windiest day they have ever seen, it was only 8 degrees at 11am, and the wind was like 30MPH-ish. They are not fans of snow at all! Their coop is small and has no heat. They were just fine.