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

[Red&Yellow]

Goodness, y'alls birds are brave! Mine are the biggest scaredy-cats, no one but the duck out when it was snowing yesterday. And today? A toasty 40 degrees, snow melting everywhere, and my big white Rock roo is huddled in the coop with the hens till way past noon. Such sissies. I need more ducks

 

[jeannieo]

Quote:
My little blind banty cochin, Spencer Tracy, sleeps on the floor and no one cuddles with him. It breaks my heart because he is so sweet but now, should I be worried about him freezing? Should I bring him in the house at night when it's bitterly cold?

 

[Carrie Lynn]

So sorry to hear you lost your Houdan. Are they considered cold-hardy?
Perhaps something was wrong with her, maybe that's why she wasn't roosting with the others???

 

[chump]

She had a broken legand was separated for a long time and when we put it back with the others it didn't have a place in the flock. I think it was a weak bird and it couldn't handle what most chickens can. It froze from the bottom up and must have just died its head was still limp when I found it the next morning. I would leave cochin out cause changing temps are probably worse than cold.

 

[ellieroo]

Quote:
My little blind banty cochin, Spencer Tracy, sleeps on the floor and no one cuddles with him. It breaks my heart because he is so sweet but now, should I be worried about him freezing? Should I bring him in the house at night when it's bitterly cold?

YES !

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

But but but if you bring it in to a 70 degree house and then out to a 20 degree coop, isn't the change in temps more harmful than good??????

 

[Mrs MIA]

If he were mine, I would make a point to pick him up and put him on the roost with the other birds. If he still insists on sleeping elsewhere, make a box just for him to snuggle into. As a last resort, bring him inside, perhaps to the garage or just inside where it isn't so cold, but not 70*F. Once you bring him in to 70*F, you will need to keep him inside until it's not so cold anymore.

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain : That's what I thought you'd say but the part about keeping him in ALL winter? Hmmmm OK I trust you. Just a little asside if I could OP and it's a little on subject here... I want to take pictures of all my birds sigularly, band them and have them judged by the breeders page. I was thinking of bringing them in to do this. Would it shock them? I can use the garage which is about 55 degrees but it's still 10 degrees outside. Id' rather do it in the house where it's warmer for ME.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
Short term changes like that will not hurt them or cause them stress.

I would suggest still doing it in the garage, though, because for some reason the minute you set them down, they WILL poop. I guarantee it!

For the little blind boy, if he's kept inside for a fairly long period of time, then I would keep him inside until the temps are back above freezing. Sometimes you have no choice but to bring them in to warm up, but if you keep them in for more than just a few days, it WILL be a shock to put him back outside. His mass-to-body ratio is so small that by himself he probably will not do well in the cold... though watch him... he might be just fine, even by himself, as long as he's out of the elements. If you find him huddled, cold, and/or acting drunk, I'd bring him in or add a little heat.

 

[featherz]

I have tons of ventilation in my coop but still getting frost and am concerned about frostbite since I have leghorns - however, I don't think there's anything I can do about it as my weather station says the humidity outside is 87% - so even with the doors wide open they'll end up with humidity. They aren't at all bothered by the cold - not huddling or acting cold at all. How can I tell mother nature to crank down the humidity a bit?