Temperatures: When to Fully Close the Coop

[GreyhoundGuy]

Hopefully this is a fairly easy question: At what temperature do you fully close up the coop to ensure that your hens will be okay overnight?

Over the last weekend, the temps got pretty chilly (for Texas, at least) - down to the mid 30s. This week should be better, but we know the "cold" temps will come back again.

For the sake of our 5 hens (living in a small coop similar to this one, but not exact), I closed up the sliding door this weekend when it got to the 30s. But usually we leave the sliding door open for ventilation. (On hot Texas summer nights, we use an insert I made that takes the place of the side door to allow for maximum ventilation.)

So what says BYC, at what temps do you fully close in your chickens? 30s? 40s? lower?

Thanks in advance!

-Joel

 

[Mary's Backyard Chickens]

Usually I shut ALL coop doors when it gets around 35 degrees.I open them back up at around 8:45 in the morning so they can get out and pick and scratch around.

 

[imnukensc]

I don't completely close up my coop at all. My coop vents are open 24/7/365. The pop door into the run stays open 24/7/365. I open the door from the run to the yard about 9 AM where they free range all day until they go back to the run/coop in the evening and then I shut the door to the run.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If by "fully close" you "close up all windows and sources of ventilation," never. 30, 40 degrees is nothing to a chicken. What's important for keeping them warm is keeping them dry, and they stay dry by having ventilation to allow moisture to leave the coop.

 

[PirateGirl]

I close the coop when I go to bed at night for safety due to neighborhood coyotes, but temperature isn't a factor. My vents can't even be closed and the pop door stays open all day on days below freezing.

 

[Lkcoop66]

Good reply’s , My Coop also has ventilation 24/7. I have a heat lamp that comes on when the temperature gets below 40. Thanks for the great info.

 

[Mrs. K]

do not worry about keeping your chickens warm, worry about keeping your chickens dry. Think about being in an unheated car with people in the winter. Almost immediately the windows fog up. That dampness collects on your chickens in a closed up coop. If the vents are open so the warm moist air can escape instead on landing on the chickens, they will be much dryer, and therefore warmer. I leave mine open and two winters ago we got down to -33 * F. It was DANG COLD. They were fine. Have lots of bedding, so the manure does not build up either. That too can make them damp, especially if it is frozen solid, warms and thaws and then freezes that night.

 

[aart]

Like most things chicken, there's no carved in stone number or answer.
Too many variables for each coop, site(prevailing winds), and climate.
You would never want to 'fully close up' a coop, they need good ventilation all year round to let moist and ammonia laden air escape the coop and run.

Do what ever it takes to:
Keep 'em dry.
Keep any strong, feather ruffling(literally) drafts, away from roost area.

The smaller the coop, the harder this can be to accomplish.
Providing details on location, coop/run size and pics, how many birds, etc. will get you lots of help in winterizing your set up.