How cold is TOO cold for a chicken?

[Reinbeau]

Quote:
Lynne, I was just thinking about you and your chickens this morning, and I knew what weather you were in for, we had it yesterday, although once the storm gets up by you it gets particularly vicious! We had blizzard conditions yesterday followed by zero degree temps overnight, the howling winds didn't let up until later on this morning. I guess it's a heat wave out there right now at 20 degrees F

I think tomorrow it's supposed to warm up a bit, but more snow on Friday. The run has been shoveled, but they don't want to go out, so I left the pop door closed to give them a bit more warmth. I do like the snow cover, though, we got 10" to replace what we'd lost over the warm up, it keeps the plants nice and tucked into the ground. Poor man's mulch

 

[LynneP]

Thanks for thnking about us, Ann, the storm turned back on itself and we haven't had any warming of the air nor lessening of the wind. Many planes are grounded in Halifax causing delays elsewhere. We have about a foot and a half of new snow- the fine sifting stuff that could blast the paint off a house! I had hoped to get the old gelding and the birds out this afternoon, but now we've decided to run the snowblower down to the barn again, feed and water and close up for the night. A lot of power outages around us, we're holding up and the generator is ready to go.

I have a suet mix for the hens and leftover cooked/ground pork for the cats to warm their tummies. The horse gets his fav- a bran mash! It's good to know there is warmer air behind this and that our recent barn improvements keep the interior comfortable. The hens act like gannets when it's cold, I'm glad we have a hopper feeder and the heated water bowl. They made 11 eggs today tough, so I guess they're feeling good.

Stay warm! Stay safe...

 

[toddy111]

I'd like to know too!!! My chickens don't have a heater and is is winter here (England) and often gets below 0 Celcius

 

[LynneP]

Hi Toddy,

I guess it depends on a lot of things. If you're from the UK you certainly would not have experienced the cold weather we get unless there is an abberation or you're in the Scottish highlands. I worry about my hens in their insulated draft-free coop when the outside temp is -4C to -8C, and particularly if there is wind. If so they stay in, even though the run is roofed and we have snow boards. We live at the topf of a hill where wind chill factors quickly plunge into the -20's Celsius. Because there is plenty of space in the coop they are very content there with their heated water bowl, feed and treats. Laying well, getting 11 eggs a day. They're happy little hens. With three I guess you're worried about enough heat in the coop?

 

[patandchickens]

Humidity matters a whole lot. They can stand a lot more cold before getting chilled/frostbit in DRY air than in air with lots of moisture in it (be it from damp coop litter, or from just living in a damp climate or having a damp bout of weather).


Pat

 

[LynneP]

I agree, Pat, this last storm (which I think you had, too) was bitter dry...but no frostbite. Had a mild day today, what a relief and next storm isn't until Wednesday, will be #12 for us.

Maybe a better question for the thread is: How cold is too cold for MY chickens?

I think we tend to personalize the experience according to our tolerances, especially those of us new to raising poultry.

I'm obsessed with thermometers- one outside, on on main floor of barn, one in feed room, one in coop part of barn...and I was thinking of moving the barometer down there!

But it has been helpful to compare temps to the behavior of the birds- no huddling in this lot!

 

[Mrs MIA]

I knew there was a reason I liked you Lynne! I have my remote sensor for my weather station in the chicken coop, so I've got temps, wind chills, humidity, barometric pressure, the works!

I have the base at my desk upstairs, so I can see what the temp is in the coop at any time of the day.

I bent the rules yesterday and picked up three new laying hens. The fact that they belonged to our veterinarian helped the decision. They're still in quarantine, but I think they're going to be fine from what I've seen. BUT... they were housed with only a dozen or so chickens, and TWO 250w heat lamps right over the roosts, in a much smaller coop. They were pretty comfortable, and were rarely outside. Now, they're still indoors, but the coop is only 10°F. They're looking a little bit on the chilly side, and I've been tempted to put a heat lamp directly on them in their pen to help ease the transition.
It just all depends on your own situation. The birds let you know when they're cold... we just have to stop and listen to them once in a while.

 

[LynneP]

OMG, Tori, we're both weather nerds! My barometer is old school. I'd like one of those weather stations you have! HM, GIVING ME IDEAS, hardware store might have them.

I'd love to see pics of the new layers when they get settled and you have a chance- good choice on the source. I've heard that one of our vets is a chicken girl, would be interesting to know what she's keeping.

Today was one of those tough decision days- -9C, windy, flurries. But the temp is rising today to -3, the flurries should pass in an hour or so, and the winds will die down. Temp on barn floor -5C, temp in coop +1 and the girls were hammering on the pop door, so that was the real clue. I agree that watching behavior is the real secret, and getting the experience is vital. One broody girl with a bare midriff, she went out early and came back. The others are popping in and out for treats and to fly in the run. Lots of track in the snow, so...

I understand the anxiety, we think it's about temperature when really it's about all the variables that affect the birds. Birds are very comfortable, drinking from the water stream as I refill the heated bowl and rummaging indoors and out.

I've been updating my winter care page, and appreciate any suggestions for improving it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=7693-seasonal-concerns

 

[Reinbeau]

With regards to weather stations, I've got a Vantage Pro II, and am planning on buying extra sensors to install in the coop

Weather geeks unite!

 

[luvmygirlsinAK]

I am also thinking about getting some kind of source for inside the coop-it scares the living daylights out of me right now with the temps. we have!! It's been _45 to _50 below zero F. for over a week, and I'm always wondering how the girls are doing. Usually the furnace inside our house shuts off for short periods of time, but now that we have an unfinished section with just a woodstove, our furnace inside the rest of the house runs non-stop, even though we also have a wood stove in the main part of the house as well.

It would be so reassuring to just be able to see what the temp. is in the coop at any given time-I'm definitely going to look into buying one!!

By the way, Lynne, I am horrible at converting temperatures, how cold is _9 c.? I'm thinking it is right around 32 F.? Just at the freezing point? Am I correct, or horribly wrong as usual?

Thank God we have a dry cold-I don't think I could stand the wet cold. People think we have it bad, but man, I would hate to live in a damp climate, that's for sure!!