Tropical Chickens, Cold Weather

[Paperairplanepilot]

Hello again,

I am trying to figure out the temperature range that is safe and healthy for my tropical chickens (Caribbean game chickens). I am now in Pennsylvania with my chickens (I was last in Wisconsin) and I will be moving one last time but not for several more weeks. (In the last location I will not have these concerns, but until then...)

I have not put my chickens outside yet because i am concerned about the temperatures at night. My 2 younger (hen and rooster) seem to do well at adapting but my older blind rooster does not move around much and the end of his comb will turn cold and slightly purple if the temp is under 60 degrees. Is it all in my imagination? Or will he not do well with anything below 60?

Currently they are inside a "porch" area that is slightly heated to around 60 ish degrees. But my family member has been asking me if it's safe for them to go outside. And when I will do it. I was trying to avoid moving them into an outdoor coop right now but if I must.....

Advice? Safe temp range?

 

[Alaskan]

Hello again,

I am trying to figure out the temperature range that is safe and healthy for my tropical chickens (Caribbean game chickens). I am now in Pennsylvania with my chickens (I was last in Wisconsin) and I will be moving one last time but not for several more weeks. (In the last location I will not have these concerns, but until then...)

I have not put my chickens outside yet because i am concerned about the temperatures at night. My 2 younger (hen and rooster) seem to do well at adapting but my older blind rooster does not move around much and the end of his comb will turn cold and slightly purple if the temp is under 60 degrees. Is it all in my imagination? Or will he not do well with anything below 60?

Currently they are inside a "porch" area that is slightly heated to around 60 ish degrees. But my family member has been asking me if it's safe for them to go outside. And when I will do it. I was trying to avoid moving them into an outdoor coop right now but if I must.....

Advice? Safe temp range?

If they are used to 60... they probably need to be slowly acclimated to colder temps before they are outside full time.

However, your one special needs one... if his comb changes color when it is below 60, then yes, something funky must be going on with him... and yes, I think he would die if you kept him below 60 for too long.

3 chickens aren't that many... great house chickens number!

 

[Paperairplanepilot]

If they are used to 60... they probably need to be slowly acclimated to colder temps before they are outside full time.

However, your one special needs one... if his comb changes color when it is below 60, then yes, something funky must be going on with him... and yes, I think he would die if you kept him below 60 for too long.

3 chickens aren't that many... great house chickens number!

Yes for my final move, they would become house chickens with a designated area. I prefer it that way honestly. I'd be happier not worrying if they are cold or something was trying to eat them. And my blind guy needs so much attention anyway that it just makes more sense for him to be with me.

I bring my younger 2 outside some days and let them run around in a closed in area. It was freakishly warm here for a few days but today was a high of 53 and currently 44 degrees. I brought them in 1.5 hours ago. I wanted to see how they would do out there and they seemed to still be ok. I had the older guy out in the sun but brought him in much earlier. He was ok for a little while out there. I wanted to give him a little outdoors time since I know it's only going to get colder.

But ok thanks I will see what I can do about getting the 2 adjusted.

Are there any things I should look out for if they are too cold?

 

[Alaskan]

Yes for my final move, they would become house chickens with a designated area. I prefer it that way honestly. I'd be happier not worrying if they are cold or something was trying to eat them. And my blind guy needs so much attention anyway that it just makes more sense for him to be with me.

I bring my younger 2 outside some days and let them run around in a closed in area. It was freakishly warm here for a few days but today was a high of 53 and currently 44 degrees. I brought them in 1.5 hours ago. I wanted to see how they would do out there and they seemed to still be ok. I had the older guy out in the sun but brought him in much earlier. He was ok for a little while out there. I wanted to give him a little outdoors time since I know it's only going to get colder.

But ok thanks I will see what I can do about getting the 2 adjusted.

Are there any things I should look out for if they are too cold?

If they are too cold they will huddle together and not want to move about and do chicken things.

As long as they are moving about at a close to normal level/amount they are fine.