Winter and chicckens

[Peggsblueinc]

3 of my chickens have few feathers on there back due to rooster. They roost outside in tree. Will they freeze

 

[Pork Pie]

Welcome to BYC

 

[21hens-incharge]

What breeds are the birds?
What are your highs and lows like?
Do you get freezing rain or snow?
Do you have a coop and run they could be in?
Have you seen or heard of hen saddles?


Personally I want my birds closed up in a coop at night so they are safe from predators and bad weather.

 

[BullChick]

No, they won’t freeze.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
You should train them to roost in a predator proof coop at night.
No, they won't freeze. I have a hen that is missing over half the feathers on her body due to a hard molt. She's miserable from the molt but fine otherwise.

 

[Peggsblueinc]

What breeds are the birds?
What are your highs and lows like?
Do you get freezing rain or snow?
Do you have a coop and run they could be in?
Have you seen or heard of hen saddles?


Personally I want my birds closed up in a coop at night so they are safe from predators and bad weather.

 

[Peggsblueinc]

They are Eastereggers. It can get as cold as 28 at night we do get snow every once in awhile. I’m new at this my first year. They are free range. They do have a coop but since the beginning they have always have roosted in the bushes in the run area. And they won’t to in.

 

[twendt]

If you're really concerned, physically put them the coop at night and lock them up. I had to do that with my new pullets, they were afraid of the old hens and wouldn't go in at night, I had to grab them and put them in every night , eventually they got the idea.

 

[21hens-incharge]

If you close them in the coop for a few days they should start using it.

Do they go in it to lay eggs?
If so then they know it is there.

If it doesn't bother you that they sleep outside and could be picked off by predators or get soaked then It is up to you.

 

[Peggsblueinc]

If you close them in the coop for a few days they should start using it.

Do they go in it to lay eggs?
If so then they know it is there.

If it doesn't bother you that they sleep outside and could be picked off by predators or get soaked then It is up to you.

They do get soaked when it rains. As far as predators. I haven’t seen any owls are my area. They would be the only thing that could get to them. How big should the coop be. I have nine hens and of course the rooster. He’s new to them funny he goes into the coop at night