Winter in New England

[jdellarocco]

My chickens have a light on in the coop 24 hrs, but since the cold nights of 20's and 30's they have stopped laying.
Last night they chose to sleep outside in thieir fenced in yard instead of in the coop. I have no idea what to do.
Should I put them inside at sundown myself?

Also, the coop has a small door open for them to enter and exit into their fenced-in yard and I do not know whether to close them in for these cold nights, or to leave it up to them to go out or not. Is it too cold in the coop for them?

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[baldie]

I don't know alot, but I would put them in. I leve in MA also, and its sooo cold right now!! I am surprised they don't go in on their own at dusk.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

mine go in on their own and then I run out and close the door.
I would get them in myself.

 

[spook]

This time of year I put the girls to bed a bit earlier so they can warm up the coop find their spot. It may not seem like they are warming it, but they are.
Giving them some scratch feed at bedtime may entice them to come inside, even a slice of bread.
Its one way that I teach them early to bed in cold weather.

 

[ODS-n-ENS FARM]

curious why a light on 24hrs? Its my understanding they need 12-14 hours of light. Maybe they can't sleep w/the light on.lol My girls go in at dusk and the coop gets closed down tight for the night.

 

[purr]

I'm in Ma too, and mine go in by themselves at dusk, and then I run out and close the pop door. I wouldn't leave the light on 24/7 they might not know it nanight time

 

[lurky]

I have my lights on a timer to shut off a few hours after dark. If they are not going in the coop, you should put them in yourself. They will probably catch on. And close the door to keep them in and safe.

 

[MissPrissy]

Close them in at night. Give them a little scratch at bedtime and they will stay warm and toasty. Open the door in the morning and them choose to go out or stay in. On freezing/icey days I do not open the barn although they want me too. On snowy days I do let them out. They love the bright sun and scratching in the snow.

 

[jdellarocco]

Thanks for all the help. I am going to entice them in with scratch feed and close the door. I can open the door in the morning before work. I am also going to get a timer. 5 am to 8 am I will have the light on.
Thanks again! So glad we have this forum. I love these chickens and have been worried.

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
Im up here in NH, I have a light in the coop goes on at 7am and off at 7pm, I would guess they arent going in b/c the coop light is on all the time.... This spring I put some babies outside and put a light out there for them all my older birds got confused and would stay out, once I turned the light off they got back on track !!!! Also will be putting 2 RED heat bulbs in the coop 1 to keep the water from freezing and to add a little warness !!!! Its allready cold huh ? Stinks !!!!