How do you know if chickens are too cold?

[Ccort]

What are signs that chickens are too cold?
Shivering?

Fluffed up?

Pink feet?

Less active, etc.?

 

[aart]

Lethargy.
I test for cold stress by tossing a few treats, if a bird ignores them then it's time to take action.
I've lost one or two from cold stress, since then I give rolled oats soaked in SavAChick electrolytes/vitamins during extreme(low single digit) cold snaps. It's really helped.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[Ccort]

Lethargy.
I test for cold stress by tossing a few treats, if a bird ignores them then it's time to take action.
I've lost one or two from cold stress, since then I give rolled oats soaked in SavAChick electrolytes/vitamins during extreme(low single digit) cold snaps. It's really helped.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

That's good to know, thank you! I didn't realize electrolytes can help with the cold. My girls are not happy with this weather. They're hiding in the coop. Can't blame them.

 

[Mrs. K]

Is this your first cold weather? Cause what they really hate is change. First snow, they will look out on what they are sure is a nuclear world.

Later, they will be dancing in 20 below, not phased, one winter, they just plowed through deep snow.

I do create mini hay stacks before a snow, after the snow, I flip the hay on top of the snow and they come right out.

Do have wind shelters in the run, a place where they can be out of the coop and out of the wind. I have some old shower doors that I prop up at a 45 degree angle to a wind shelter with the sides open and they do love being under that.

mrs K

 

[Ccort]

Is this your first cold weather? Cause what they really hate is change. First snow, they will look out on what they are sure is a nuclear world.

Later, they will be dancing in 20 below, not phased, one winter, they just plowed through deep snow.

I do create mini hay stacks before a snow, after the snow, I flip the hay on top of the snow and they come right out.

Do have wind shelters in the run, a place where they can be out of the coop and out of the wind. I have some old shower doors that I prop up at a 45 degree angle to a wind shelter with the sides open and they do love being under that.

mrs K

Yes, it's my first year with chickens in the cold!
The "nuclear world" comment was funny! I finally had to use treats to get them out of the coop during the snow. They just weren't having it. BUT, it was in the 70s a few days prior so I don't think the big fluctuations are helping.
My old wind shelter right now is the coop but am going to add tarp to put of the sides of the run for a barrier, of needed.