Q: What is the absolute coldest in CELSIUS that a chicken can survive?

[Chesco]

In BC Canada, only have a starter coup atm until i build the dream one next year.

Im preparing the garden and chickens for winter.
We hit -30C in this city.
Would appreciate everyone with experience to give their findings in Celsius.
Q: What is the absolute coldest in CELSIUS that a chicken can survive?

 

[Ridgerunner]

-30C is about -20F to put it in perspective for some people.

I don't get that cold but the guy that wrote this article does. It might be worth a read for you.

Cold Weather Poultry Housing and Care | BackYard Chickens - Learn How to Raise Chickens

 

[Mrs. K]

-35 F is about -37 C. Mine have come through -35 F without added heat. They do have good ventilation, good wind protection, and adequate space for the size of the flock.

People tend to worry about cold, but a big concern should be dryness and wind protection. Good ventilation, good dry bedding and space.

Post a picture. - a lot of starter coops are not good on either space or ventilation. Post a picture. They can often be modified.

Mrs K

 

[azygous]

I won't give the definitive answer you're after. The more proper question is how difficult is it for chickens to maintain body heat as temperatures go way below freezing.

Whether it's 0C or -30C, a chicken maintains body heat by consuming calories and by sheltering and huddling. It's all a matter of understanding thermodynamics and preventing entropy. That means that a chicken must manage to stay ahead of the dropping air temperature by consuming more calories to generate body heat. At the same time, they require help from you in the form of shelter from the wind chill that would draw heat from their bodies.

Unless the chicken consumes adequate calories and has adequate shelter, even a 0C temperature could kill them. But with adequate calories and excellent shelter, chickens can survive impressively low temperatures.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Obviously this is an extreme example, but -50C:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-cold-is-too-cold-check-this-out.1345546/

 

[saysfaa]

Prince T Woods advocated open air housing (coops with one completely open side) for climates with temperatures down to -40. Which is the same C and F.

He does say other things are also important. The proportions of the coop is one example - it works best when the building is deep enough. And the site is important - good drainage of air and of water through the soil.

He was an editor of a popular poultry paper/magazine in the early 1900s. He also wrote books about poultry housing.

He didn't live in a climate that cold but quoted people who did (in Alberta, Quebec, and British Columbia, possibly Ontario also) who successfully used open air coops through winters that cold. This is on about page 149 of the 1924 edition.

Here are screen shots of two other places in his 1924 book that may be of interest. The first two pictures are the first place because it was on two pages so I couldn't get it in one screen shot...

Pdf of the entire book

 

[saysfaa]

I also think it is not a matter of simple temperature.

I think chickens who have fresh, clean water all their waking hours can handle colder temperatures than those without that. Also, good feed all the time - chickens do best eating a little bit very often so something like "all they can eat" twice a day doesn't work as well.

Stressed birds are more vulnerable to any kind of pushing of the limits so crowded chickens can't handle as low of temperature. Or chickens in frigid temperatures can't handle as much crowding. Same for any other stresses.

 

[Chesco]

Thank you so much for all those that have chimed in their opinions so far.

Anyone else care to share their experiences on the topic?

 

[TooCheep]

Chicken breeds are a factor in how cold they can handle it. What breeds do you have or are you thinking of getting?

 

[Chesco]

Blue Orpington, Buff Orpington, Oregon Austra-White