How cold is too cold for chickens? Guineas?

[farmland5]

Hello,
We 1.5 yr old Wyandottes. Some were molting in Oct. many feathers have grown back but their comb is still pale.

We have 6 month old Australorps

We have 1.5 yr and 6month old Guinea hens.

All are in wood coops.

How cold is too cold before we need to provide heat?

 

[aart]

How cold is too cold before we need to provide heat?

Single digit or below zero F's for more than a few consecutive days/nights.

 

[farmland5]

Thank you!

 

[nuthatched]

Their combs are pale since they're likely not laying after molt for winter break.

 

[Mrs. K]

Oh no, I wouldn’t say the need heat unless below 20 degrees. What is more important than heat, is protection from the wind.

Unless you have a very small coop, where as the birds are up against a wall or the roof is close to their heads. Then the chance of them being damp rises, and damp chickens can’t take as much cold.

Mrs K

 

[Loving my girls]

They wear tog 50 feather duvets and when it gets cold they cuddle (or is it huddle ?).

Just an observation

 

[farmland5]

Oh no, I wouldn’t say the need heat unless below 20 degrees. What is more important than heat, is protection from the wind.

Unless you have a very small coop, where as the birds are up against a wall or the roof is close to their heads. Then the chance of them being damp rises, and damp chickens can’t take as much cold.

Mrs K

Thanks. Is this true for guineas too? The chickens and guinea coops are both walk-in height. The chickens roost is only 1-2 ft off the floor but the guineas roost is near the ceiling.

 

[farmland5]

Thank you for the replies. They all have good wind protection…just not heat. It does sometimes go down below 20s in the winter here.

 

[Mrs. K]

Is this true for guineas too? The chickens and guinea coops are both walk-in height. The chickens roost is only 1-2 ft off the floor but the guineas roost is near the ceiling.

My grandpa always just let Guineas run wild, he thought they were good for snakes. They roosted in the trees. Personally I cannot take the sound they make - so have no advice there.

What I think is very important in you coop and roost placement is the distance from the ceiling and from the walls. Moisture will collect on both, if there is not a lot of space. I think chickens need 15-24 inches above their heads when roosting, so the roost should be about 30 inches at least from the ceiling. I also do not run my roost square with the building, but more like a hypotenuse - it is longer, and it keeps more birds away from the walls.

The walls and ceilings are going to be colder than the air in the coop, and warm air on cold will condense. This is why one wants ventilation above their heads, so that with warm air rising it moves out of the coop. Inadequate ventilation, allows that damp air to condense on the ceiling, and that 'rains' back down on the chickens making for dampness in the coop.

This is why, I strongly advise, that one does not think warm and closed up tight, but rather DRY with ventilation.

Mrs K

 

[KCGirl]

Single digit or below zero F's for more than a few consecutive days/nights.

We are definitely in a cold snap. Today 3 stayed inside all day, but the others were in the run. Looks like it will be a few consecutive nights. At least it gets a little warmer during the day.