How cold is too cold?

[ngraysmith]

We're in the process of building our coop. I'm wondering how cold is too cold for the chickens to be "outside." It gets hot here in NC and we were thinking a three-sided coop for the summer would be great, then put the fourth side on when it gets cooler at night. So when should we put that fourth side on? Assuming it doesn't get below 50, can the chickens be in the three-sided coop?

Thanks,
Nicole

 

[VelvettFog]

From a temperature point of view, most chickens will take single digit temps, as long as they are protected from wind. You'll see lots of talk about ventilation. That is because humid air is much colder than dry air. In a coop, if you allow the humidity to build up due to poor ventilation frostbite can occur. The same coop, properly ventilated will not have the same issues.

But - are you not concerned about predators?


VF

 

[Fred's Hens]

Because you are in NC, you'll never have low temps cold enough to bother the chickens. We had -30 this winter and our hens were fine, but they were dry, well ventilated and sheltered from the drafts. We don't attempt heating, because the chickens don't need it and it would be foolish economic exercise.

Your issues will indeed be heat in the summer and predators. You'd be best to focus entirely on those issues.

 

[ngraysmith]

Thanks everyone - my husband has made the most predator proof coop known in existence. I think the predators would have to be hopped up on meth to even attempt to get in. Hardware cloth in every possible space, 2x6s on top of the hardware cloth where an animal might try and rip it out and large bricks around the bottom with hardware cloth running a foot under the coop and attached to the coop bottom. I'm thinking maybe a snake could get in somewhere through the hardware cloth but that would be it. The coop/run is all one system, with three walls on half. It is sort of like this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=65588
or
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=29560

except bigger and we are not putting on the interior coop wall (where the chicken ramp is)if that makes sense. I'm planning on putting a 2x4 on that side in order to keep the pine shavings in and a ramp up, but no wall until the fall. The plan is that the chickens would always (night and day) have access to the "run" part and that we will free range them as much as possible when we are home. The coop is located about 6 feet from our house and under a big tree so it is well protected,

Nicole

 

[hennyannie]

I am in N.C. and I do find that the summer heat is harder to deal with than the cold. My cousin gets by with just a three sided shed for hers. I have wire on the front and openings at the rafters for air, in winter I use greenhouse curtain to cover this and I do use a light bulb. The light is mostly to keep the water from freezing.