I live in Ga, we have some snow on the ground not alot. It is 28 degrees out. It is going to warm up to 43 but with the wind chill it will be like 30. Is this to cold for me to let my chickens out of their coop. I did not let them out yesterday cause it was snowing mixed with rain. Don't want them to get sick.
When I go to swtich out the frozen waterers with warm water I leave the door open.Some come out,and some stay right by the door.I would give them the option to be out while you go about tending to their needs. I have to stay outside with mine(hawk) so they usually get no more than 30 mintues at a time. I noticed they eat the snow. If it is raining I make them stay inside,because they are goofy enough to let themselves get soaked then they will freeze in the coop. I have a hen with face feathers that get wet and freeze daily.Poor girl!
I open the coop doors in the morning and let them decide whether to come out or go in. It gets pretty cold here, but no snow.
thank you. i am really new to raising chickens. scince july. i love it. there is so much to learn. BYC is such an awesome sight. I would be lost without it. Thanks again
Today there is a 30 mile wind storm and snowing with 18 degrees without wind chill. This is the first time my chickens were reluctent to come out of the coop. I shoveled out most of the snow in the run and wraped 2 sides with a tarp. They are coming out for periods then going back in. Mine are used to 4 inches of snow but this is there first real snow storm and I did'nt even want to be out in that wind! The tarp helped, these temps are nothing for a chicken. Mine run through snow to get under the porch in 0 degree wether then roam around the house foraging when free ranging.
In several years of keeping chickens in GA I've never locked them in, and don't recall that they every stayed in all day. It was 23 with 15 mph winds this am and they were out there pecking as usual.
I would open the door at least - we have alot of snow and frigid temperatures - trust me they make the choice! And most of the time when really windy and cold - they wont go out!
This is our second winter with chickens and I found my girls don't like to step in the snow so I shovel out snow from the coop and a path to bushes they like to stay under which are by the deck. If they go out of the coop they will follow my path and I find one or two will spend time in the dirt under the deck, although today they came out in the run for my hot oatmeal and veggies and are taking shelter in the coop , I think due to the wind. Last winter they often followed my path to the deck and came up looking for treats , looking at us though the slider, cold doesn't faze them.
Today is the first morning I have ever made mine stay in their coop. Heavy snow, wind gusts to 45mph from the north, and it feels like 7 with the wind chill. The snow blows so hard at times I can't see out the window. It is supposed to calm down a bit later and they can come out then.
