What is "cold" for a chicken and prepping the coop

[NorthwoodsChick]

What happens if your tube heaters go out when your chickens are acclimated to 40F and the temperature is -20F? We lost power last night at my house for a few hours. My chickens didn't know the difference.

Excellent point. You and I live in similar climate conditions. My winter ambient temps dip well below zero from Jan through March. I registered -39 F several times last winter. It seems the Feb-March winter clouds disappear, leaving brilliant clear skies overnight and creating arctic-like brag-worthy temps! Here in the northern UP winter storms coming off Lk Superior seem to target my town specifically (I like snow btw) leading to frequent power outages. I have a generator but the coop is not on the essential needs short list. I do not heat my coop but have lots more ventilation that I will ever need. It will get cold, but when a power outage occurs I feel confident that my birds will be well acclimated to conditions, and that makes the difference between survive and thrive.

 

[WI chickens]

Excellent point. You and I live in similar climate conditions. My winter ambient temps dip well below zero from Jan through March. I registered -39 F several times last winter. It seems the Feb-March winter clouds disappear, leaving brilliant clear skies overnight and creating arctic-like brag-worthy temps! Here in the northern UP winter storms coming off Lk Superior seem to target my town specifically (I like snow btw) leading to frequent power outages. I have a generator but the coop is not on the essential needs short list. I do not heat my coop but have lots more ventilation that I will ever need. It will get cold, but when a power outage occurs I feel confident that my birds will be well acclimated to conditions, and that makes the difference between survive and thrive.

The good news is that those super cold clear days usually have sun like you mentioned so the birds can sit in the sun in front of the windows or can go out into the plastic covered run where it is warmer during the day if they like. The first year I had a run made from cattle panels covered with plastic and the temperature would be 90+ F when it was sunny, but then plummet when the sun went down. I didn't think 120 degree temperature swings were good for them, so I took the door off and left the end entirely open That worked much better and I still do it that way. Cattle panel hoop houses with greenhouse plastic make great windbreaks and provide a nice snow-free area for the birds in the winter. My chickens don't mind the cold, but they don't like walking in the snow.

 

[Duckgrammy]

It will get down to 32 degrees here tonight and a few degrees cooler tomorrow night. I have my girls inside the coop right now with zero adjustments for the cold temps. Is this ok? Can temps around 30 harm them?

I'm reading so many varying things on keeping them safe and comfortable this winter. Do we close up some of the makeshift Windows? (Mine are just holes covered in hardware cloth)

Will my girls get frostbite? Any tips are appreciated. We've already had a very hard year and hoping to get this right.

Well, here in Florida we do get below 30 at times. When I had my chickens, they hated any heat source and would not even go in their smaller coop with even a work light. Their body temp is high anyway. It is more humid here which can help. I would agree with ventilating properly regardless because droppings build up ammonia too. I guess there are chicken sweaters if anyone is molting.

 

[NestingMillenial]

The good news is that those super cold clear days usually have sun like you mentioned so the birds can sit in the sun in front of the windows or can go out into the plastic covered run where it is warmer during the day if they like. The first year I had a run made from cattle panels covered with plastic and the temperature would be 90+ F when it was sunny, but then plummet when the sun went down. I didn't think 120 degree temperature swings were good for them, so I took the door off and left the end entirely open That worked much better and I still do it that way. Cattle panel hoop houses with greenhouse plastic make great windbreaks and provide a nice snow-free area for the birds in the winter. My chickens don't mind the cold, but they don't like walking in the snow.

Tbf, I don't think Europe loses power nearly as often as the states manage to do it (and Henfla is in Norway) ^^

 

[WI chickens]

Tbf, I don't think Europe loses power nearly as often as the states manage to do it (and Henfla is in Norway) ^^

Fair enough. We don't lose power that often where I live either, and it's usually for a very short amount of time. The chance of losing power is just one tiny part of why I don't like systems that use heat, fans, and the like.

 

[Ccort]

Do any of you use vents like you would have in the house? When first making the coop, we used those but replaced them with hardware cloth to let more air in. I am now thinking they may limit some ventilation but also wind/snow. Would those work well, I wonder? Could add those back in and then add a couple more 3.5 inch holes with hardware cloth to "add back" some of the ventilation.

Also, how do I know if I have enough ventilation? In summer, I knew because the temp in the coop was matching the temp outside. But as I am closing some windows and adding others, how do I know?

 

[3KillerBs]

Do any of you use vents like you would have in the house? When first making the coop, we used those but replaced them with hardware cloth to let more air in. I am now thinking they may limit some ventilation but also wind/snow. Would those work well, I wonder? Could add those back in and then add a couple more 3.5 inch holes with hardware cloth to "add back" some of the ventilation.

No, not even in my smaller coops.

It was easier to create awnings for the vents on the Outdoor Brooder.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-to-outdoor-brooder-conversion.76634/

 

[Ccort]

No, not even in my smaller coops.

It was easier to create awnings for the vents on the Outdoor Brooder.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-to-outdoor-brooder-conversion.76634/

Thanks. With the way main is, I cannot add ventilation across the top like that. I wish I could. It would be much easier!

I added my last post to ask how I know I have enough ventilation?

 

[WI chickens]

Thanks. With the way main is, I cannot add ventilation across the top like that. I wish I could. It would be much easier!

I added my last post to ask how I know I have enough ventilation?

Your coop, including the area under the roosts where the most poop accumulates, should be bone dry and you shouldn't have any smells at all unless one of the chickens just pooped. If it feels stuffy at all, you need more ventilation. If you smell anything, you either need more litter or you need more ventilation. You should be breathing fresh clean air when you are in your coop.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Do any of you use vents like you would have in the house? When first making the coop, we used those but replaced them with hardware cloth to let more air in. I am now thinking they may limit some ventilation but also wind/snow. Would those work well, I wonder? Could add those back in and then add a couple more 3.5 inch holes with hardware cloth to "add back" some of the ventilation.

Also, how do I know if I have enough ventilation? In summer, I knew because the temp in the coop was matching the temp outside. But as I am closing some windows and adding others, how do I know?

NO. Chicken's ventilation needs are measured in Sq Ft. Those little vents are measured in effective sq inches (144 of which are needed for a single sq ft), and the screen most of them are built with as insect deterrent not only reduces effective sq inch further, but they tend to plug quite quickly with the loose feather/dander/whatever always airborn in a coop.

and that's a great summer test. Its much harder to tell in the winter. But if the air is so dry outside that you skin is dessicating, and when you step into the coop it feels damp, moist, or less desert-like, that's a sign (a bad one) that you don't have enough air exchange. I don't get winters here, so i can't offer anything more useful than that.