Official BYC Poll: Do Your Chickens Go Inside Their Coop When It Snows?

[Lainy3591]

It's winter - meaning it's snowing in some areas. Although the common expectation is for all your chickens to hurry on inside the coop you might get a few rebels since each chicken has its own personality, just like us humans. So: Do Your Chickens Go Inside When It Snows?

Place your vote above, and please elaborate in a reply below if you chose "Other".

View attachment 2950671

Further Reading:

• Caring For Chickens in the Winter
• Top 10 Favorite Backyard Chicken Breeds
• Top 5 Ways Of Keeping Your Flock Warm In Winter

(Check out more exciting Official BYC Polls HERE!)

No matter if we get only a 1/2 inch of snow, our chickens huddle in the doorway of the coop each waiting for another to go first. Once we shovel a path for them they all get brave at once and then stay outside.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If my chickens wake up to a white world they typically don't come out for two or three days, and the it's only some that come out. I think it's more that they don't like change than they don't like snow. I think it helps if they have a reason to come out, like they want to go foraging. In a 9" snow a couple made a trip to the compost pile to check it out, but only after a couple of days in the coop.

The day I took this picture it did not snow until after they were already out. It was only about an inch but they did not bother to go in.

 

[StinkyAcres]

My chickens are kind of wimpy. They don't go outside much when it's cold and snowy. Although they have enjoyed their new roofed run this winter.

 

[Suzz]

My chickens coop is inside a 12 by 24 run that is totally snow proofed so they are a little spoiled the only thing that keeps them in the coop is extreme cold it has been in the negatives lately like 20 below and they are getting older and feeling it more this winter

 

[Iluveggers]

We haven’t really had snow besides a dusting up until last night. One brave chicken came out before 10am. I went out to the run, and wiped the teeny amount of snow off of the ramp (must’ve blown in last night as we have a tarp over the run), and off a few pallets/branches we have for them to climb on, and threw some veggie scraps in the pile of leaves in there that did not have snow on it. Then they all came out except the one in the nesting box.

 

[Bonkerelli]

Even though I would consider my chickens tough since I live in a really cold and very snowy climate. Yet, the do not like to be outside in the weather. They have the option to go outside but they rather not.

 

[chrissynemetz]

My chickens absolutely refuse to step foot outside if there's snow on the ground. They also won't come out if it's raining, or windy, or if the sun is too hot.

 

[RubelliteRose]

I'm not really sure what my flock will do if it snows. The oldest hens have only seen snow for two days and it was already on the ground when they woke up. The first day, they refused to leave the coop. I finally took pity on them and moved their food into the coop for the day. By the second day, some of the snow had melted so they left the coop and even ventured outside of the run - making sure not to step in the snow itself of course

 

[BlackbeardTheGuinea]

They like to stay in the barn.

 

[nuthatched]

They stay in the doorway or under their Canopy and blame me for the inclement weather.