How cold is TOO cold for a chicken?

[australorpchick]

My coop's not insulated, nor can I get electricity to it. It got down to 22 degrees on Saturday morning and everyone did fine. In fact, most of the big chickens sleep on top of the next box in front of a window. I did put two broody silkies in the garage though. I was worried that since they didn't have anyone to snuggle with, they might get cold.

Forgot to add that I'm still getting 4 - 6 eggs per day, out of 8 laying hens.

 

[Reinbeau]

Mine is insulated, but that's more for the summer heat than for the winter cold. It was 21°F out there this morning - and it was 34° inside the coop, with two windows open for ventilation. They're all just fine. I think the lowest we went last winter was -11°F, and we had lots of blowing snow and wind - Stumpy was still with us then, our huge, nasty BO roo. He had a nip of frostbite on his comb, but it healed pretty quickly - that's the only damage I noticed all winter.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

It was 3 degrees last night...so I ended up locking every one in...it was 26 in the coop when I went out at 10pm to check on them. It was 21 in there when I got up this morning and -5 outside. Everyone was eating & doing well...I wish I could figure out freeze-proof, auto waterers! I had to make two trips to the house this morning with frozen waterers!

 

[Amethyste]

It was 14 degrees outside here at the lowest point this am, and the girls did great! We picked up the water last night before it froze and brought it inside, then DH filled it with very warm water and replaced it back in the coop. Its 19 degrees now in the backyard, and the waterer was put out at 4 am. Still not frozen and everyone seems well. I checked all combs and no signs of frostbite, and brought them out a nice hot breakfast of alflafa bits, layer mash and a little cracked corn. They are loving it, and everyone is outside doing the chicken chores.

I checked everyone this am while they were still on the roost, and warm tummies and feet abounded. They seemed really happy except for Mum waking them up to check on them with the torch lol

The coldest I have seen it here has been about 7 degees and the girls did fine. Better than me anyway lol

 

[kk454]

It hit 30 below last night (20 below in the coop.) Chickens had a heat lamp to huddle under perched above their roost, and our two older girls shared a nesting box for the night. (I didn't have the heart to kick them out.) Everyone was pecking around happily this morning, and I had my normal number of eggs in the box. I think the biggest problem for most people in cold weather is humidity and lack of circulation in the coop. Chickens have those feathers for a reason.

 

[Mrs MIA]

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[Rare Feathers Farm]

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Ackk! I don't miss Montana winters!

Where are you in Montana?

 

[mtnranidae]

Quote:
Ackk! I don't miss Montana winters!

Where are you in Montana?

Thanks - that's the sort of info. I've been trying to find - chickens in coops well below freezing inside! Our wimpy girls won't come outside the coop if it's too cold and/or snowing. Will chickens starve themselves or will the eventually come out to eat? We have food and water just outside the coop and can put food inside but don't have a good way to put water in the coop.

Jill

 

[Happy Chooks]

We had snow Sunday night. The storm left last night and we got to 20 degrees (F). The chickens are in a draft free, but uninsulated coop with no heat. I was really worried about them (especially my one that chose NOW to molt) but they were fine this morning. I spent 2 hours going back and forth de-icing water bowls, giving some scratch and bread, checking food levels, etc. They have not been out of the coop since the snow came, so I figured the scratch would get them moving to keep them warm and give them something to do. I also took them warm oatmeal, but they didn't eat much of it. (in fact, all the chickens were taken care of before I got my coffee or breakfast)

Now my babies are 6 weeks old in a separate small coop with a heat lamp and they are also doing fine. It's warm enough to keep it above freezing because their water dish is not frozen. Guess I picked the wrong week to put them outside.

 

[kk454]

Ackk! I don't miss Montana winters! smile Where are you in Montana?

We live in central Montana. South of a little town called Stanford. If you are familiar with Great Falls and Lewistown, it is about halfway in between.​