it's 7 degrees outside - should I just leave the birds in the coop?

[Wildsky]

Quote:
Glad I'm not the chicken on the end................

 

[kayri]

Me too Wildsky,

I keep thinking that these birds should know enough to go inside if they are cold, but then again these are the same birds that will eat an entire tractor-trailer load of styrofoam if given the chance. . .

I still worry when the temps drop below 20 and when they drop into the single digits, I pace. . .

edited for spelling mistakes, can we get a spellchecker on the site?

 

[pawtraitart]

The temperature here this morning was 2 below zero. Want to know where my chickens were? They were in their run pecking around as usual. (it's partially covered with a tarp and has a wind break) They sleep in the coop at night but are usually out in the morning no matter how cold it gets. They only stay inside if it's REALLY windy. I give them cracked corn and rake up the loose alfalfa leaves from the horse/cow hay for them everyday. All of my hens are laying eggs and don't seem all that bothered by the cold. Even so, I'll be so glad when this cold snap is over.

 

[KrisRose]

I usually open the pop door- Only a couple of times I did'nt bother. When its windy and bitter cold they will just stick their heads out and then go back into the coop. I throw scratch in their shavings and this keeps them active and entertained (without pecking each other).

 

[Buster]

Quote:
There is a spell checker, it will underline the word you miss spelled after you wrote it if it's wrong.

 

[Wynette]

It's been single digits here, too. I opted to leave the pop hole door shut on the coop to keep the warmth that they're generating inside. I think it just depends on your flock; mine are whimps, and rarely go out unless it's above freezing, so I don't feel badly leaving the door shut for them. That being said, it's been 4 days, and they haven't even acted interested in ventutrinig out (even when it's been in the 20s), so today, I left the pop hole open. Hope they get out & get some fresh air...and maybe sunshine if Mother Nature blesses us with sun!

 

[crysmom]

well this is my first winter with chickens. It has been around 0 farenheit round the clock for the last three days, but the whole winter it has been about 20 degrees up till now.

My chickens are only 12 weeks, and if I open the door only 4 of them every go outside, and only for about 10 minutes then they are back in.

 

[ole-crone]

It makes you wonder doesn't it?

Wynette says that hers are whimps, another list member said on another thread that it was in the 20s there and her chicken's feet were bloody from the cold.

Why do some chickens deal with the cold so much better than others? And I'm talking the same breed!

It's -5 here and heading down to @-18 tonight. Our high was zero today. The chickens were all out and having a grand time.

We have lean-to tarps next to each coop so there is some ground to scratch. The main coop area has a 'spa'. It is a starplate system frame that hasn't been enclosed. We covered it with plastic and moved the water, food and a box of dirt/ashes/sand etc for bathing. They love to sit around the side of that box and wait their turn to bathe.

As cold as it is, they still wait until the last minute to go back inside their coops for the night which makes it hard on me who has to go out twice in the cold - once to give them their 4:30 grains and then again when it is even colder and icier to shut them up.

I think they are better off having the cold air exposure than to keep them sealed up inhaling ammonia fumes and getting tempted to fight or peck at each other's feathers.

I just can't get those chickens. I'd plain freeze out there!

 

[kayri]

Quote:
Jared, I think the spell checker must be on your computer because I know I've had to go back in and correct my really poor spelling, and I know I've seen other mispellings on this site. Either that or it is on everyone else's computer compoter cumputer cumpoter compuoter, except mine.

It's a bit warmer here today, but raining.

Ole-crone, I think to some degree it is what the chickens are used to. If they are used to the cold weather and it has come on gradually, they are OK with it.

I also think that it is the amount of space you have indoors for them. I f they have a nice big barn playhouse, they will hang around inside.

My poor chickens only have 3 X 4 space inside, so they have to go out, or go crazy. . .

 

[Buster]

Quote:
Jared, I think the spell checker must be on your computer because I know I've had to go back in and correct my really poor spelling, and I know I've seen other mispellings on this site. Either that or it is on everyone else's computer compoter cumputer cumpoter compuoter, except mine.

It's a bit warmer here today, but raining.

Ole-crone, I think to some degree it is what the chickens are used to. If they are used to the cold weather and it has come on gradually, they are OK with it.

I also think that it is the amount of space you have indoors for them. I f they have a nice big barn playhouse, they will hang around inside.

My poor chickens only have 3 X 4 space inside, so they have to go out, or go crazy. . .

Ok- sorry if I offended anyone. I'm not a computer genius, so it's good to know that my computer does that for me.

BTW- It was -17 last and my 10 girls gave me 5 eggs today and 7 yesterday. They don't seem to be having a problem with the cold, but I did add a roost that they could cover their feet on because my rooster had frostbite on his feet from before I got him. It's -5 and dropping now, and they are all cozy on their roost. I don't know about anyone else's chickens, but mine seem pretty acclimated to the cold.