Opinions of cold climate chicken keepers needed

[lrach73]

I see people referring to the ambient temperature a lot, but not necessarily the temp inside the coop. Our coop is not insulated. It is raised up off the ground and we've enclosed the space under the coop with straw. We've also placed several bales inside the run, to give them some wind breaks. Good ventilation, no drafts. The thermostat inside the coop is usually within a few degrees of the ambient temperature. I've heard people say that their coops will stay around 40 due to the body temperature from the chickens, not my girls. The temperature probe is right near their roost and it's consistently within 5'ish degrees of the outside temperature.

A couple of my girls have small spots of frost bite on combs already. Prior to this week, it's been low single-digits. We did start using a oil heater, which usually keeps it 10-12 degrees above the ambient temperature. The frost bite happened even with the heater running.

Actual temperatures will be below zero with wind chills much colder. That means the inside temperature of the coop will probably be under 10 degrees. I've very concerned. Two of my girls decided to go through a partial molt late December and are just now starting to feather out (just around their neck, they didn't molt anywhere else).

Do I add more heat?

As far as thermal shock goes, the reality is that in KS, the temperature can swing 30-40 degrees within just a few hours. If we kept the coop at 15 degrees and the power went out, it would honestly mimic what our stupid weather does on its own. Additionally, if their power went out, it would be out in our house too. We could go attach a small generator within minutes.

Are they really okay just hanging out in sub-zero temperatures? I get the down coat argument, but I have a down coat, I'm much larger and I wouldn't be safe in sub-zero temperatures.

 

[WindingRoad]

I see people referring to the ambient temperature a lot, but not necessarily the temp inside the coop. Our coop is not insulated. It is raised up off the ground and we've enclosed the space under the coop with straw. We've also placed several bales inside the run, to give them some wind breaks. Good ventilation, no drafts. The thermostat inside the coop is usually within a few degrees of the ambient temperature. I've heard people say that their coops will stay around 40 due to the body temperature from the chickens, not my girls. The temperature probe is right near their roost and it's consistently within 5'ish degrees of the outside temperature.

A couple of my girls have small spots of frost bite on combs already. Prior to this week, it's been low single-digits. We did start using a oil heater, which usually keeps it 10-12 degrees above the ambient temperature. The frost bite happened even with the heater running.

Actual temperatures will be below zero with wind chills much colder. That means the inside temperature of the coop will probably be under 10 degrees. I've very concerned. Two of my girls decided to go through a partial molt late December and are just now starting to feather out (just around their neck, they didn't molt anywhere else).

Do I add more heat?

As far as thermal shock goes, the reality is that in KS, the temperature can swing 30-40 degrees within just a few hours. If we kept the coop at 15 degrees and the power went out, it would honestly mimic what our stupid weather does on its own. Additionally, if their power went out, it would be out in our house too. We could go attach a small generator within minutes.

Are they really okay just hanging out in sub-zero temperatures? I get the down coat argument, but I have a down coat, I'm much larger and I wouldn't be safe in sub-zero temperatures.

Your body temperature isn't 106-107* either. It was 9F outside today and 0F yesterday morning when I fed. I had a sweat shirt on . No gloves. Can't do anything with gloves on. I was out there for about 20 mins.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Your body temperature isn't 106-107* either. It was 9F outside today and 0F yesterday morning when I fed. I had a sweat shirt on . No gloves. Can't do anything with gloves on. I was out there for about 20 mins.

I have to wear gloves when it's that cold or my hand will stick to the gate.

 

[WindingRoad]

I have to wear gloves when it's that cold or my hand will stick to the gate.

I hear ya there. Same thing happens to me with the door handle on my house. It's one of those long push down types. And the cover to my metal feed trash can. just a small sticking.

 

[No More Empty Nest]

I see people referring to the ambient temperature a lot, but not necessarily the temp inside the coop. Our coop is not insulated. It is raised up off the ground and we've enclosed the space under the coop with straw. We've also placed several bales inside the run, to give them some wind breaks. Good ventilation, no drafts. The thermostat inside the coop is usually within a few degrees of the ambient temperature. I've heard people say that their coops will stay around 40 due to the body temperature from the chickens, not my girls. The temperature probe is right near their roost and it's consistently within 5'ish degrees of the outside temperature.

A couple of my girls have small spots of frost bite on combs already. Prior to this week, it's been low single-digits. We did start using a oil heater, which usually keeps it 10-12 degrees above the ambient temperature. The frost bite happened even with the heater running.

Actual temperatures will be below zero with wind chills much colder. That means the inside temperature of the coop will probably be under 10 degrees. I've very concerned. Two of my girls decided to go through a partial molt late December and are just now starting to feather out (just around their neck, they didn't molt anywhere else).

Do I add more heat?

As far as thermal shock goes, the reality is that in KS, the temperature can swing 30-40 degrees within just a few hours. If we kept the coop at 15 degrees and the power went out, it would honestly mimic what our stupid weather does on its own. Additionally, if their power went out, it would be out in our house too. We could go attach a small generator within minutes.

Are they really okay just hanging out in sub-zero temperatures? I get the down coat argument, but I have a down coat, I'm much larger and I wouldn't be safe in sub-zero temperatures.

It's been sub zero at night and early in the morning a few times already here. Mine haven't had any supplemental heat yet and they have been outside when the sun comes up every morning. They have a long perch outside and they line up on it like they do at night so keep each other warm the same way. They also go out in the run and scratch around like usual too. I have plastic up on the north and west sides of the run, that's where our prevailing winds come from. I'm mainly worried about the sub sub zero nights, like the forecast says -22 Wednesday night. There's something to be said for peace of mind though too. Putting a heat panel in for a few days probably isn't going to interfere with their acclimation to cold weather, but it very well could make you sleep better! I know that first sub zero night i was checking on them on the camera a couple times during the night, lol.

 

[path.otto]

I see people referring to the ambient temperature a lot, but not necessarily the temp inside the coop. Our coop is not insulated. It is raised up off the ground and we've enclosed the space under the coop with straw. We've also placed several bales inside the run, to give them some wind breaks. Good ventilation, no drafts. The thermostat inside the coop is usually within a few degrees of the ambient temperature. I've heard people say that their coops will stay around 40 due to the body temperature from the chickens, not my girls. The temperature probe is right near their roost and it's consistently within 5'ish degrees of the outside temperature.

A couple of my girls have small spots of frost bite on combs already. Prior to this week, it's been low single-digits. We did start using a oil heater, which usually keeps it 10-12 degrees above the ambient temperature. The frost bite happened even with the heater running.

Actual temperatures will be below zero with wind chills much colder. That means the inside temperature of the coop will probably be under 10 degrees. I've very concerned. Two of my girls decided to go through a partial molt late December and are just now starting to feather out (just around their neck, they didn't molt anywhere else).

Do I add more heat?

As far as thermal shock goes, the reality is that in KS, the temperature can swing 30-40 degrees within just a few hours. If we kept the coop at 15 degrees and the power went out, it would honestly mimic what our stupid weather does on its own. Additionally, if their power went out, it would be out in our house too. We could go attach a small generator within minutes.

Are they really okay just hanging out in sub-zero temperatures? I get the down coat argument, but I have a down coat, I'm much larger and I wouldn't be safe in sub-zero temperatures.

I had several of my pullets go through a light molt last year, necks only, and the temps dipped to -21 below for a couple of nights after Christmas and they did fine with a flat panel heater on the wall behind the roost. When the winds are as high as they will be this week I'm keeping them in the coop and praying I've done enough. I'm also adding another few inches of bedding so they can hunker down. Supposed to be -30 F one night with a high of -19 the next day. I'll be doing frequent checking during the day.

 

[TLCMidMichigan]

I do the deep cover of the floor with pine chips. Its a thermal barrier even on an off the ground plywood floor. And my roosting rails are 2x4 with the wide side up. My birds are full size Black French Currans w/feathers on their feet. They are well insulated when roosting.

 

[aart]

My birds are full size Black French Currans w/feathers on their feet.

Do you mean BC Marans?
How are their combs doing?

 

[TLCMidMichigan]

Their staying inside today. I haven't seen any problems yet.
You said BC? I call them Black French Marans. At least that's what I got when purchasing the eggs to hatch. I even have a Splash and a Blue out of the group.
Its a genetic trait.
I'll keep an eye out.
I had to correct the names. Short term memory. Some times its a pain.

 

[aart]

BC is for Black Copper....some add French, others do not.