What is the lowest temperature that you can let the chickens outside?

[theron]

I am a little concerned with frostbite is all.

 

[Plain Old Dee]

My chickens are pretty much outside 24/7. The entire east side of our coop is open - covered by welded wire. There is a good sized window on the west side, too. We will be covering the west window with a tarp this weekend, to cut down on the wind and keep things a little warmer. We debated on covering the east side, but the chickens love to sun themselve there. Once our run is completed, we will probably enclose the east side of the coop, but will open the door into the run every day. In my old henhouse, we never closed the door into the run, and rarely had a predator problem. (The dog we had back then was very vigilent about guarding what she considered to be her babies!)

I just figure that the chickens need all the sunlight and fresh air they can get. Shutting them up in a coop every day can lead to excessive moisture buildup, which is a recipe for disaster.

 

[Katy]

Mine are free to come and go as they please during the day. Unless it's pouring rain or a roaring blizzard they generally chose outside. We were 10 degrees yesterday morning and it will get colder yet before winter is over.

 

[LovinMyHensInNC!]

My hens are free to do as they wish and they will choose to be outside even during the most frigid temperatures!... they all fair very well!

 

[lleighmay]

Mine are given the option every day (unless I have to work a wierd shift and there won't be time to get them put up before I go to work). It gets down into the teens here sometimes but is generally in the low 30s during deep winter. Today is our first snowfall they've seen and they're skeptical of that but have still been out exploring on an individual basis. I've noticed if it's raining hard they also don't go out as much but still enjoy sitting in the doorway in the fresh air and occasionally make a brief trip out into the torrent. When it's raining lightly or just cold (no precipitation) they go in and out all day long with no apparent ill effects. I'm sure once I get a section of the run roofed and partially windproofed for the winter (there's never enough time to get everything done..... ) they'll probably stay out most of the day as long as the wind's off them. As yet I haven't had any problems with frostbite.