Young chickens acclimating to the cold...

[2lilchkns]

Hi Gardenlady, I love your chicks! How cute! For what it's worth, I put my chicks out in an unheated coop at 5 weeks. The temps were 50 degrees during the day for the most part, and 30 or so at night. We've had a few nights in the teens and twenties for the last week. The chickens are doing great. They put themselves to bed at dusk, and sleep lined up on their roosting bar. I went down to check on them on the first couple of really cold nights, and they were fine-- not huddled or piled. My only issue is the frozen water, because we have no electric. So I just keep changing it as necessary.
Anyway, I agree with you -- they are tougher than we are!
My chicks are all cold hardy and were well feathered at 5 weeks, so that probably helped.
Good luck with your chickies! I don't know about yours, but mine are thriving since I put them outside. And we are all glad to have them out of our basement.

 

[Gardenlady2]

Thanks!!! Yes, mine started growing like crazy when I moved them outside at 4 weeks (with heat a week, then just heat at night). Today I changed the heat lamp so it points up at an angle instead of down. This will take the chill off without creating that super hot spot for them to sleep under. I'll leave it that way for a few nights and then take it away this weekend (weather supposed to be milder).
It's just been a struggle deciding what to do for them since they were started so late in the year. A month earlier and this would have been a lot easier

 

[centrarchid]

I have juveniles about five weeks post-hatch that are roosting under stars with temperatures down to about 9 F so far. They are clearly challenged by such relative to adults so I encourage their roosting tightly together and put more effort into blocking wind exposure. As you are probably doing I provide feed free-choice that is a nutritionally dense chick starter which is normally replaced by a grower this time of year. In addition they are give access to whole corn just before roosting as they will consume that even after they are satiated on the starter making so their crops are topped off with additional calories for the night which also helps them put a little fat on. Finally, I make so the have comfortable places to bunch up while loafing during day to conserve heat then as well. Reducing cold stress during day also helps with energy reserves for nighttime and makes so less nutrition has to be expended on simply staying warm. The comfortable places are broad pieces of wood oriented so they get full sun while protection from wind. The wood helps limit heat loss that would normally occur through feet in contact with ground.

 

[Orthoprez]

I have two hens. I think they are Rhode Island Reds. I have had them for 2 years now, and enjoy their personalities. Last winter I had them in the garage in a large dog crate with bedding on the bottom.

My question is, will they be alright in their coop outside this winter? The coop has a place wher they lay eggs then in front of that is where they perch to sleep.

There is a board that they walk down on to roam outside. There is a little window that opens up plus a sliding door. There is also a door at the bottom of the board for them to exit the coop. That door is made out of wire.

At what point during the winter do I need to have all 3 closed? They sometimes poop where they lay and where they perch. How often will I have to clean their
poop?