What temps are too cold?

[RollinWithTheStones]

My girls were spoiled with our 30's and 40's up until now. Over night it dropped form 40 to 19 and the girls refuse to come out in the snow. I even put a nice bowl of warm grains out and they would run out take a bite and run back in.

Funny enough my rabbits like the snow much more then my chickens.

 

[teach1rusl]

My girls were spoiled with our 30's and 40's up until now. Over night it dropped form 40 to 19 and the girls refuse to come out in the snow. I even put a nice bowl of warm grains out and they would run out take a bite and run back in.

Funny enough my rabbits like the snow much more then my chickens.

Rabbits have furry feet so their tootsies don't freeze...lol.

 

[Winisk]

I worried about the cold last winter having not had experience with it before. I put a light bulb in the coop to take the edge off. No more. My chickens tolerated a -29 C night last in an unheated coop. They are all out now sunning themselves in the crisp cold air. I do have large windows with southerly exposure which raises the temperatures inside during the day. They enjoy that. It offers some respite. Fresh water is offered in the morning and late afternoon. I would say that while they can survive the cold they don't like it. They dislike the snow more than the cold.

 

[Arielle]

I have a variety of birds: RIR, SLW, Marans, and more. I do notice the birds holding up a leg, to warm it up against it's feathers. And I see them seeking shelter from the winds; and enjoying where the sun shines on the ground. Today at 8 degrees the water freezes quickly and the winds are blowing. TOo cold to be outside without gloves for more than 10 minutes. About -8 with windchill.

My birds are hatchery birds; and they are much smaller than the traditional (heritage) lines which are ENORMOUS birds as I've seen at the Boston Poultry SHow. So I do wonder if these smaller birds might have a little more difficulty with the coldest days. Edited to add: my marans are huge birds and even they are tucking up a leg to cover it. Coop is unheated.

I keep a few bags of dried leaves collected in the fall to toss out on the snow. Borrowed idea from another BYC contributor.

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

Rabbits have furry feet so their tootsies don't freeze...lol.

True and they're also more daring then my girls. Today it's 24 out and all the birds and rabbits are romping around in the snow.