Should i make my chickens go in their coop at night now that is getting colder?

[Jenjason2]

I have a 10x10 covered enclosure for my 4 hens to sleep in. They free range during the day. I leave the coop open for them to go in to at night but in the summer they like to sleep on top of the coop inside the enclosure but now that its getting colder should I lock them in their coop at night? This will be their first winter they are about 9 months old.. I live in California so it doesn't get super cold only a few night here and there at are freezing.

 

[DobieLover]

I have a 10x10 covered enclosure for my 4 hens to sleep in. They free range during the day. I leave the coop open for them to go in to at night but in the summer they like to sleep on top of the coop inside the enclosure but now that its getting colder should I lock them in their coop at night? This will be their first winter they are about 9 months old.. I live in California so it doesn't get super cold only a few night here and there at are freezing.

Can you please post pictures of your coop?

 

[chrissynemetz]

I agree, pictures would help

 

[RebeccaRN]

My coop is only for sleeping so I'm hoping they will be fine outside during the day through the winter...I live in Oklahoma.

 

[pyaresquared]

We have an enclosed coop in central AZ. The hens only go in at night. We button it up completely when it gets below about 50° F. It’s about 4x4x4’ and we have 4 hens. Even though the coop is by no means airtight, the temperature stays a few degrees warmer than outdoors just from the body heat of the hens. (There’s a WIFI thermometer inside.) Our biggest problem is summer heat, so they have an exhaust fan and, for really hot nights, a little solar swamp cooler.

 

[DobieLover]

We have an enclosed coop in central AZ. The hens only go in at night. We button it up completely when it gets below about 50° F. It’s about 4x4x4’ and we have 4 hens. Even though the coop is by no means airtight, the temperature stays a few degrees warmer than outdoors just from the body heat of the hens. (There’s a WIFI thermometer inside.) Our biggest problem is summer heat, so they have an exhaust fan and, for really hot nights, a little solar swamp cooler.

50F and you "button it up"? That's a warm winter day here and the windows are open.
How much year round ventilation does your coop have?
It's not about keeping the coop warm. It's about keeping the coop dry and that takes lots of ventilation.

 

[igorsMistress]

50F and you "button it up"? That's a warm winter day here and the windows are open.
How much year round ventilation does your coop have?
It's not about keeping the coop warm. It's about keeping the coop dry and that takes lots of ventilation.

That’s starting to cool off at night here, we run 85 to 95 at night in summer. Plus we get get wind pretty regularly, even at night.

 

[DobieLover]

That’s starting to cool off at night here, we run 85 to 95 at night in summer. Plus we get get wind pretty regularly, even at night.

Still...50 isn't cold to a chicken.

 

[igorsMistress]

I have a 10x10 covered enclosure for my 4 hens to sleep in. They free range during the day. I leave the coop open for them to go in to at night but in the summer they like to sleep on top of the coop inside the enclosure but now that its getting colder should I lock them in their coop at night? This will be their first winter they are about 9 months old.. I live in California so it doesn't get super cold only a few night here and there at are freezing.

For clarification your coop is inside the run? What do they do when it rains? So Cal or North? I know that some people have birds that roost in trees at night regardless of temps.

 

[igorsMistress]

Still...50 isn't cold to a chicken.

Maybe, maybe not. I suppose it depends on what they’re used to.