Think it's too cold for your chickens? Think again...

[cluck-cluck]

Another good idea! I'll go see if I can talk my hubby into buying me some, LOL. Thanks again!

 

[bruceha2000]

I have another silly question. We get blustery days here, and like today, it was blustery and chilly (low 50's high) and can get quite chilly at night to the low 40's,

cold - low 40's

Oh, sorry

I actually grew up not too far south of you and yes, I do recall breaking out the big winter coat when it got cold. You know, like 50F

Yet when building my coop, I kept reading they need lots of ventilation. Now I'm worried they get too much of a draft? The coop has open "windows" on 3 sides from 4' to 5' on the 5' high walls, the roosts are about 2 ' off the ground, and there are up to 1/4" max spaces where the doors are hinged, so air could blow through there. Do you think they'll get sick from the draft?



This is a picture of the coop while under construction. Do I need to worry? Sorry, I know you all say they can live in really cold weather, but I understand drafts are bad, then I understand lots of ventilation is required... now I'm second guessing...

I think others covered it but I wanted to say I like the layout. Edge on the raised area plenty of space under for protection from rain. I PRESUME the low side of the roof faces north. You could put a batten strip along the inside of the doors on the hinge side to block those small cracks if it seems necessary.

Another good idea! I'll go see if I can talk my hubby into buying me some, LOL. Thanks again!

Make it a small piece. Around here a 4'x8' sheet costs almost $130 and they sell it by the square foot so every sq ft is $4.

Bruce

 

[Mrs MIA]

All I can say is observe your birds. If they're running around and eating and drinking, they're fine. If they sit on the roost and refuse to budge, then they're probably cold. Don't spoil them, but let them acclimate naturally in your area. Down to 0F they have been known to sleep outside voluntarily. Chickens are about 102F under those down coats.., if they have the means to tuck their feet and heads under their feathers and snuggle together, they will be fine. Just watch the moisture buildup... Moisture will bring on frostbite. That can survive frostbite if cared for properly, but it is not pleasant for them.
I no longer have chickens, but I can tell you that I never heated until I noticed that the birds were uncomfortable.., and that could be -10 to -20F.
Good luck!

 

[cluck-cluck]

Yah, I know it's expensive stuff! LOL. I'll come up with something... I know it's not that cold here, just, you know... figure my chickens have thin blood like the rest of us in the warmer areas, LOL. But was really worried about drafts. Thanks again!!!

 

[Triplell]

Yah, I know it's expensive stuff!  LOL.  I'll come up with something...  I know it's not that cold here, just, you know... figure my chickens have thin blood like the rest of us in the warmer areas, LOL.  But was really worried about drafts.  Thanks again!!!

I use to live in Northern California and getting to the low 40's is nothing for them to handle. Just put up a tarp over the side that gets the most wind and call it that. Up north (at the base of the Sierra's) we on occasion would get down to 28-30 degrees. That was just 20 miles north of Sacramento, if it wasn't windy then it really wasn't to bad. Now I live in Minnesota and it gets down right frigid. Some times we are colder than Alaska, go figure. The coldest temp I have ever felt Febuary of 96. This is no lie it got down to -60 with the wind chill. I was a palberre at my grandfathers funeral. I had on 3 pairs of long johns and nylons on and still did not stay warm. We carried the casskit had the VERY short service and ran to the limo. The guests just stayed in their cars. My uncle from florida never turned off his car for 2 weeks. He wanted to make sure we had a car that would start. I laughed but his and mine were the only ones that did start that day. Go Nissain!!!! My family is a ford family, I too went back to ford and still my cars alway's starts.

 

[jaybanana]

So bizarre reading this thread when we are currently sweltering with 40c+ (104f) temps!!! And I just converted some of the temperatures in this thread into celcius, and can I say, I cannot believe how cold it gets in some places!!!!! In our coldest coldest winters, in the middle of the night, it might get between 32-28f! I start pulling out scarves, gloves, jackets and beanies when it drops below 68f!!

 

[Triplell]

I know what you mean!!! I wish I was back in JAMAICA man.e Oh how nice that honeymoon was , I think back and now I wanna go back sooooo bad!! The price wasn't even that bad, 15nights and 16days for $5000.00. I do want to go to Austrailia and go to the outback. But with a guide only, I like to visit the country side and stay way from all the big cities. I fell in love with Kola's when in grade school some came to visit and two of them escaped into the eucoliptous trees surrounding our playground. They were very gentle yet fyste yet sooo cute. Okay back to reality I have to go and fill the wood furnice now. Shoot I am already tired of snow!

 

[jaybanana]

I know what you mean!!! I wish I was back in JAMAICA man.

Oh how nice that honeymoon was , I think back and now I wanna go back sooooo bad!! The price wasn't even that bad, 15nights and 16days for $5000.00. I do want to go to Austrailia and go to the outback. But with a guide only, I like to visit the country side and stay way from all the big cities. I fell in love with Kola's when in grade school some came to visit and two of them escaped into the eucoliptous trees surrounding our playground. They were very gentle yet fyste yet sooo cute. Okay back to reality I have to go and fill the wood furnice now. Shoot I am already tired of snow!

There is a zoo near us (small zoo!) and you can pat the koalas! BUT koalas in the wild are not nice and cuddly! They will scratch you and urinate on you, and they hate people!!!! I'll trade you some warmth for some snow!! My youngest has never seen snow! My oldest only saw snow when he was 7 weeks old!

 

[cluck-cluck]

Those of you deep in snow right now, please remember, those of us in the warmer climates boil as if in the fires of Hades in the summer! You can turn on the heater, put on lots of warm clothes and get by in the cold, but when it's so hot you can't breath naiked, there's no more for you to do! Plus it's so beautiful to have 4 real seasons! And most of you are living in the countryside with trees and fields of green! How lovely that sounds to me!

 

[jaybanana]

Those of you deep in snow right now, please remember, those of us in the warmer climates boil as if in the fires of Hades in the summer! You can turn on the heater, put on lots of warm clothes and get by in the cold, but when it's so hot you can't breath naiked, there's no more for you to do!

Ice baths?

Actually, thats a good idea for my boiling chooks!