It's cold in Wisconsin!

[ChickenGirl555]

If you don't already know, Wisconsin is pretty cold around this time of year. It isn't even winter and we already have almost freezing temperatures. I will only be here this morning until 8:00 and back around 4:30. So I will be gone a while (but luckily can stay with them the full day for a few days soon) But my problem is that it's pretty cold. It's 34°F currently, and our high is 48°F which will get here in the afternoon. So I'm asking if this is an ok temperature to put out my 6 pullets which are two months old. I don't want to come home to 6 chicksicles!

 

[rjohns39]

If you don't already know, Wisconsin is pretty cold around this time of year. It isn't even winter and we already have almost freezing temperatures. I will only be here this morning until 8:00 and back around 4:30. So I will be gone a while (but luckily can stay with them the full day for a few days soon) But my problem is that it's pretty cold. It's 34°F currently, and our high is 48°F which will get here in the afternoon. So I'm asking if this is an ok temperature to put out my 6 pullets which are two months old. I don't want to come home to 6 chicksicles!

Are they fully feathered and have they been spending time in the cold?

 

[chickens really]

Yes, they will be fine if they are used to the Coop and know how to get from the run to the Coop if weather turns awful?...All I do is place them in the Coop for a Day to get used to that first and then the second day I open pop door for them to go out into the run..They all hang close to the coop and pop door ..

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Are they fully feathered and have they been spending time in the cold?

Well the coop is a little warmer and yes they are fully feathered, just not laying eggs or grown fully size wise. So they have experienced around the same temperature as outside but luckily they ALWAYS huddle even if it's hot because they grew up together with me from 4 days old.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’ve had chicks less than 6 weeks old go through nights in the mid 20’s F with no problems. Those chicks had been raised in a large brooder in the coop where one end was warm but the other end might have ice on it some mornings. They were used to playing in pretty cold temperatures. I fed them a chick starter with protein levels of 20% so they had developed well and were feathered out. The area they stayed in during those temperatures had good wind protection down low where they were but great ventilation up high. That way they were protected from strong winds hitting them but also protected from moisture build-up which could lead to frostbite.

At 8 weeks I don’t believe yours need any acclimating, they should be able to handle those temperatures fine as long as they have breeze protection and good ventilation. I would not hesitate to put them out right now.

 

[rjohns39]

Well the coop is a little warmer and yes they are fully feathered, just not laying eggs or grown fully size wise. So they have experienced around the same temperature as outside but luckily they ALWAYS huddle even if it's hot because they grew up together with me from 4 days old.

Then, as @chickens really suggested, I'd open the door to the run and let them choose where they want to go.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Then, as @chickens really suggested, I'd open the door to the run and let them choose where they want to go.

OK I did that, the sun came out and warmed up the yard so they are outside currently, chasing all the bugs in my yard!

 

[Smidgelet]

If you don't already know, Wisconsin is pretty cold around this time of year. It isn't even winter and we already have almost freezing temperatures. I will only be here this morning until 8:00 and back around 4:30. So I will be gone a while (but luckily can stay with them the full day for a few days soon) But my problem is that it's pretty cold. It's 34°F currently, and our high is 48°F which will get here in the afternoon. So I'm asking if this is an ok temperature to put out my 6 pullets which are two months old. I don't want to come home to 6 chicksicles!

Hi CG555
You came up when I did a search for Wisconsin winter, since it's a nice 1° morning in WI, I am wondering if you heat your coop. I had four chickens , neighbors dog killed two. So i have only have two left, not sure how much heat they produce. Hence my heating question. I bought the cozy coop heatr, but with all our power outages, I am hesitant to have the chickens use to the heat. Any cold weather thghts are soooo appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Hi CG555
You came up when I did a search for Wisconsin winter, since it's a nice 1° morning in WI, I am wondering if you heat your coop. I had four chickens , neighbors dog killed two. So i have only have two left, not sure how much heat they produce. Hence my heating question. I bought the cozy coop heatr, but with all our power outages, I am hesitant to have the chickens use to the heat. Any cold weather thghts are soooo appreciated. Thank you in advance.

I wouldn’t use a heat source unless you ABSOLUTELY NEED IT. If your chickens look cold then you probably should. Otherwise don’t let them get reliable on the heat.

 

[Smidgelet]

Wow! Thank you for ur fast response! I will check on them through out the day. Thank u. I did not ever think I wld be so concerned over these feathery friends.