how cold is too cold for chickens

[Judy]

Quote:
This will be my 4th winter with chickens in this climate (this time around) and you are right, cold is no hassle. I do keep a heat lamp in my coop -- for the waterer, not the chickens, for the occasional night when it gets cold enough to freeze the water. I use it so rarely I'm just too lazy to set up something more northern-like.

 

[Ruth Ann]

Well being a new chicken mamma I am worried about mine...even after reading this post.
I can't help it...I am a worrier...LOL

I am in SC...and we are only dealing with night temps in low 30's right now.
All summer the coop was open completely on the front, but the whole run area is
completely closed in with fencing.
Anyway...we put doors up on the front a week ago. It is closed off mostly now except a doorway so they can come in and out when they want. No waterer in their house...
and not worrying about frozen water just yet.
So I assume they will be fine with just the small opening on the one side. I think if it was to get to cold I would put a light out for them...

 

[Minniechickmama]

Quote:
Ruth Ann, you will be fine. Just make sure they have access to the water. They know what to do. South Carolina is a pretty temp safe environment for them.

And Boykin, yes, it does actually get quite hot here in the summer. We have had days over 100 degrees before, though not frequently. We had a long hot summer this year where it stayed 85+ for most of July and into August. Our county fair was the hottest since 1947.

 

[boykin2010]

i wish it was 85 or so degrees here sometimes. it was never under 95 all summer!!! needless to say we all have pools and lots of popcicles.

 

[Minniechickmama]

We don't have air conditioning in our house either, and it is a big old farmhouse that was built 103-years ago. It gets darn uncomfortable in July. But we go to the town pool in the evening and cool off. It never hurts to sweat.