We're in Winnipeg. It hasn't gotten really cold here yet......the coldest it's been has maybe been -20 at night (which would be around 10 below zero farenheit). It'll get close to -40 (-40 farenheit) within a month or so. Here's what I've noticed about our flock of 7 ladies. Before it snowed, they'd be out every day, all day, even when the temps were -15C (0F). The cold didn't seem to bother them at all. Now that we have snow, unless it's warmer than maybe -5C (20F), they stay inside. It's like they don't like the snow, or are afraid of it, or something. We've coaxed them out by putting down a little straw over the snow, but they really don't seem to like it. Even if we put treats out in their run. We open their door every morning, and whereas they used to fight to get outside first, they barely peek outside anymore. They're eating a drinking a lot, and egg production has dropped from 6-7 a day, to 4-5. It just seems like around -10C is the cutoff point for them. Any other cold-climate folks notice that below a certain temp, they don't go outside anymore?
It takes -20 to -30F for my birds to stay inside and they still go out by afternoon if the suns out. They do not like snow though. I shovel the run after snow and do put straw down if the run is icy.
You do not have to be so cold to see impacts. Departure time from roost is delayed. My games also fly a great deal more. Loafing habits change greatly as well. Finally you should see an inverse relationship between temperature and. Feed intake once temperature drops below freezing. My birds for most part do not have a coop to retreat to so they must compensate by other means.
