Winter and chicckens

[21hens-incharge]

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

A 6x8 coop would be big enough for them.
Bigger is always better though.

 

[twendt]

Just remember, everything likes chicken!

 

[noonespecial]

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

my leghorns too roost in tree. now leafless and snow, temp low at 10 degrees. set up heat lamp in greenhouse, turned on this a.m. hopefully since they hangout in greenhouse on snow days, maybe they wise up. I'll cry if they freeze. they used hen house a few months when little, sometimes lay eggs in henhouse. not sure what to do. they would come in if i let them.

 

[Chickassan]

One they accept him as their rooster they should follow him into the coop and roost with him.
How long have you had the rooster, just how new is he?

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

 

[cmom]

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

my leghorns too roost in tree. now leafless and snow, temp low at 10 degrees. set up heat lamp in greenhouse, turned on this a.m. hopefully since they hangout in greenhouse on snow days, maybe they wise up. I'll cry if they freeze. they used hen house a few months when little, sometimes lay eggs in henhouse. not sure what to do. they would come in if i let them.

I leave my birds in their coop for several days and then they can get used it. I put feed and water and give them some treats. When I do open the pop door at first they are a little hesitant to go out but they do. If you can get them in their coops maybe give them some treats in the coop. My birds will do just about anything for treats. My younger birds do go into their coop at night but they are usually the last ones to go in. What are your roosts like in your coop. Maybe they prefer to roost on branches? Good luck and have fun...

 

[noonespecial]

I leave my birds in their coop for several days and then they can get used it. I put feed and water and give them some treats. When I do open the pop door at first they are a little hesitant to go out but they do. If you can get them in their coops maybe give them some treats in the coop. My birds will do just about anything for treats. My younger birds do go into their coop at night but they are usually the last ones to go in. What are your roosts like in your coop. Maybe they prefer to roost on branches? Good luck and have fun...

leghorns are almost like wild birds, these are. very cared for and handled when young, they come when called but cannot catch them. cannot lure them. got the greenhouse heat lamp on, they spent most of yesterday in greenhouse then went to unprotected tree. go figure.

 

[noonespecial]

set up heat lamp in greenhouse. they spent the day in there then slept in tree in snowstorm! last night they slept in greenhouse. whew!

 

[rosemarythyme]

my leghorns too roost in tree. now leafless and snow, temp low at 10 degrees. set up heat lamp in greenhouse, turned on this a.m. hopefully since they hangout in greenhouse on snow days,

10 degrees with a heat lamp in a greenhouse sounds like a potential formula for frostbite, so be careful. The fact that they were choosing to roost outside tells you that they're fine enough without the additional heat.