How to tell if a chicken is too cold?

[greggooo]

Hi there. I have a small flock of 6 chickens. I built them a coop with around 27sf (5x5.5) and 4 feet tall. We have this arctic cold blast coming tonight in upstate NY. It's already 23º outside and 27º in the coop. I have a hygrometer that shows just 47% humidity. I think that I eliminated drafts and I insulated all of the walls with 1" foam insulation and used hardboard to cover it so they wouldn't peck at it. On the wall near the roosts, I installed a Cozy Coop and it's on high.

How do I know if its too cold for them? They are only 8 weeks old right now. They did want out earlier and free ranged when it was 28º. Beastie, my rooster just crowed 6 times or so. How do I know if they are too cold and I need to bring them into the basement? They just seem so young and this is kinda scaring me. They are 3 EE and 3 Ameraucanas.

They aren't in a chicken pile like when they were chicks and not warm enough. And yes, I have a camera in there...
Thanks.

 

[centrarchid]

Birds appear in good feather as needed to get through cold, especially out of wind. When to cold they will sit on feet all the time and loose weight. Check them every couple nights for muscle mass on breast. Odds are they will do fine.

 

[chickens really]

Sounds like they will be fine....Have no worries....

 

[aart]

I'd lose the heater, if the power goes out they may really feel it, they will get used to the cold and be fine. At 8 weeks they are fully feathered and that is what will keep them warm.

Do you have a heated waterer, so liquid water is always available to them?
Dehydration is more of a risk than the cold.

I hope you left some ventilation open...they need fresh air 24/7/365...and the moist ammonia laden air needs to be able to escape the coop.

First winter is the hardest, but once you see just how well they do you won't be nearly as worried next winter.

The way I tell if they are too cold is their behavior, if I think they may be suffering from hypothermia I toss out a few treats to make sure everyone is moving well.

 

[greggooo]

I have a heated waterer, but it's outside in the run and not near them in the coop. I have a camera in there and they don't even get off the roosts until it's dawn. They just stand and stretch sometimes. Sometimes Beastie crows at different times in the night, but other than than, they just roost and turn their heads backwards onto their backs.

The hygrometer I bought says that the moisture is about the same as the humidity outside. Sometimes less, sometimes a little more. Last night, it was 50% and so was the air outside, so I am assuming that the ventilation is okay? Is there any harm in adding more just to be sure? As long as it's above them so it doesn't cause a draft? I've never smelled ammonia. I also do the deep litter.

The panel heater (Cozy Coop) radiates a small amount of heat if they are near it. Only lifts the coop maybe 3-5 degrees. Really doesn't do much at all. The low last night was 19 and the coop got to 28 inside.

Thanks for the advice. I think you are right, the first winter must be the hardest. Also, they aren't fully grown yet.

Here's how they looked last night. Now, it's 28 outside and they are out in their run scratching around.

I'd lose the heater, if the power goes out they may really feel it, they will get used to the cold and be fine. At 8 weeks they are fully feathered and that is what will keep them warm.

Do you have a heated waterer, so liquid water is always available to them?
Dehydration is more of a risk than the cold.

I hope you left some ventilation open...they need fresh air 24/7/365...and the moist ammonia laden air needs to be able to escape the coop.

First winter is the hardest, but once you see just how well they do you won't be nearly as worried next winter.

The way I tell if they are too cold is their behavior, if I think they may be suffering from hypothermia I toss out a few treats to make sure everyone is moving well.

I'd lose the heater, if the power goes out they may really feel it, they will get used to the cold and be fine. At 8 weeks they are fully feathered and that is what will keep them warm.

Do you have a heated waterer, so liquid water is always available to them?
Dehydration is more of a risk than the cold.

I hope you left some ventilation open...they need fresh air 24/7/365...and the moist ammonia laden air needs to be able to escape the coop.

First winter is the hardest, but once you see just how well they do you won't be nearly as worried next winter.

The way I tell if they are too cold is their behavior, if I think they may be suffering from hypothermia I toss out a few treats to make sure everyone is moving well.

 

[aart]

Humidity and temp will fluctuate thru the day/night but stay about the same inside and outside when you have adequate ventilation.

Not unusual for them to stay on the roost if it's dark,
but once it's light and they are up(down),
and moving about they need access to food and water.
I use supplemental lighting, they are up before I am,
so keep feed and water inside coop.

I would save the heater for when it might go below zeroF for several days in a row.
You're just burning electricity,
and making yourself feel better,
it's not really helping them.