Winter questions

[Ridgerunner]

how cold is too cold for this? When should I keep them in their tiny coop and run?

I never lock mine in the coop or run because of weather. I open the pop door and let them decide what they want to do. If a cold wind is blowing mine stay out of the wind. If the wind isn't a problem mine are out roaming in temperatures below zero Fahrenheit.

Mine do not like waking up to a white world. If it snows overnight they don't go out immediately. But with the pop door open some usually do in a day or two. I leave the pop door open and let them decide. I think having something to forage helps get them out. Since yours free range they should have incentive to eventually come out. Just give them the option.

One risk in cold weather is frostbite. Living where you do, you should know the association of wet and frostbite. If your hands or face are dry frostbite isn't a huge risk, not compared to if they are wet. Same with chickens. The biggest risk of frostbite is on the comb and wattles. You want decent ventilation in the coop so the moisture from their breath, their poop, and thawed water can escape but you don't want a cold wind hitting them. There are different ways to accomplish that, an easy way is to have ventilation openings up high so any wind through them are over their heads.

I've seen chickens sleep in trees in weather well below zero Fahrenheit, -10 was about as cold as it got. They were out of the wind up there and you could not ask for better ventilation.

 

[TooCheep]

Waiting for pics. You may be better off using dead/dry leaves, but I'd like to see your setup. I'm in your general area and @3KillerBs is right that your chickens more need a wind-break and protection from water than anything else.

Please add your general location to your profile to make answering questions like this more targeted.

If you haven't already, you might want to check in and say "Hi" in the INDIANA BYC'ers HERE! thread.

 

[Jwebb35]

Thank you everyone! What would you use instead of hay for the run so they don't get frost bite and here are the pics of their current set up.

I snapped thick plastic all over the run part of the coop and run kit to make it one big coop to give them more room for winter. I'll take it off in the summer to give them more air flow

 

[SmiYa0126]

This looks great! I use pine shavings, mulch, leaves.

 

[3KillerBs]

A small coop could be a better option in the winter since there's less dead space even three hens will generate enough heat. I would stay away from straw, it gets damp and then could contribute to frostbite. I wrap my run leaving a small gap on the bottom and top, plus a panel I can move aside to allow more airflow on the "nice" days.

Thank you everyone! What would you use instead of hay for the run so they don't get frost bite and here are the pics of their current set up.

I snapped thick plastic all over the run part of the coop and run kit to make it one big coop to give them more room for winter. I'll take it off in the summer to give them more air flow

Airflow is critical even in winter. The ideal is to have the temperature and humidity inside the coop the same as outside.

The guideline is to have at least 1 square foot of ventilation per adult, standard-sized hen -- best located above the chickens' heads when they're sitting on the roost but that may need to be adjusted to achieve the above.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

 

[rosemarythyme]

Main contributor to frostbite is moisture, which is why it can occur as high as just around freezing point. By buttoning up the coop and run too much you're trapping moisture. I think both the coop and run need more ventilation than what we're currently seeing here.

Chickens are more bothered by strong winds and snow on the ground than actual cold temperatures.

 

[3KillerBs]

Chickens are more bothered by strong winds and snow on the ground than actual cold temperatures.

Also, though our own comfort when tending the chickens matters, it's much easier to provide wind shelters at chicken height than full human height.

The first winter on this property I laid out straw bales in a T-shape to provide wind baffles for any possible wind direction.

A few weeks ago I prepped the coop for a visit from Ian, focusing on chicken-level shelter:

It's much easier to protect a creature that's under 2 feet tall than one that's 5-6 feet tall.

 

[Knobby]

I'm planning on taking advantage of the "warm" and "dry" day today to lay down more wood chips and/or hay in their run to ensure some dry areas for the girls to walk on. I also plan on putting more tarp on the roof and sides of my run, and hope I can provide a comfortable area for the girls this winter....my first one as a chicken owner.

 

[aart]

I also plan on putting more tarp on the roof

Make sure whatever is under the tarp can handle to snow load.

 

[Knobby]

Make sure whatever is under the tarp can handle to snow load.

Good point since we do receive alot of Lake Effect snow.