In or out at night??

[boggerman]

We're new to chickens, and have a nice coop - a kind of upstairs-downstairs idea, with the nesting area up a ladder and the bottom area open, similar common triangular designs, but more of a cube than a pyramid.

My wife thinks we need to put the whole coop into the garage at night to (a) keep the chickens warm and (b) keep them safe from predators. We live in the countryside in Ireland, so it's not exactly warm, but not that cold this time of year. To prevent predators (mainly foxes around here), I put old paving slabs on the ground around the coop to stop them digging in.
Is this enough, and are they safe and warm outside like this? Or is my wife right that we should get the chickens indoors in our garage every night??

 

[kellysmall87]

They will be warm enough as long as they are sheltered and have adult feathers on them. They'll huddle together for warmth. I'm from England so basically same temps as you, and my silkies are outside at night and they have fluff not feathers. Thing is though, I live in the city so predators - apart from cats and foxes - aren't a problem.

Has the garage got a door into the garden? If so, move the coop in there and then leave the garage open in the day. Although as long as they are locked in the secure coop at night they'll be ok. Maybe an electric netting (avaliable from ebay) for around the run? Sorry can't be more help.

 

[boggerman]

Thanks for that Kelly. I should have mentioned that we have 3 RIRs, all around 18 weeks old. I am about to start putting together a run, to attach to the coop during the day, then remove at night so they are locked up in the coop.

 

[Gallus Sapien]

If you put water in the coop where they sleep, and it does not freeze your birds will be fine. One 100 watt light bulb is all I use to keep my girls warm...they lay right through our winters.