Chickens - How Cold Is Too Cold?

[ddgood]

Your chickens will probably be fine. Here a video of a homesteading couple that keep chickens in Alaska in temps down below 0F.

 

[BnRidge]

Toes and combs can get frostbite if it gets cold enough, I would say -20f or below. The neighbors had a dozen running around loose. They would roost in the rafters of a pole barn. At -40f they lost a few toes. Other than that they all made it through that cold winter (1979-80).

 

[Yander]

Just make sure their ventilation does not have them getting a draft on them where they roost and they will be fine. They actually recommend against heat in a coop because the chickens can acclimate to the cold without heat.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

OK this makes me feel better about it. I closed up the windows when I noticed them huddling up closer together at night. Once I did that they all spread back out along the whole roost. I guess I'll just keep an eye on that and if I see them all huddled up with the windows shut I'll add a heat lamp.

I would guess if coop is draft free, and you can keep humidity low enough you should be fine if you have enough bedding. Lots of bedding really helps. We always worry about supplemental heat due to how easy coops can go up in fire.
Keep an eye on them and if they are always huddling then they are cold. If they are not huddling then they really are not cold.
Also feed at night (corn) or other high energy diet and this helps them stay warm when at sleep during coldest part of the day.

 

[fatjay]

It's under 20 at night here and my chickens are fine. I flipped the roost bars so the 2x4's are flat so they can rest their feet flat and sit on them to keep them warm. But they're basically meat balls wrapped in down.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've had hens for over ten years and have never run heat. It isn't cold which shuts them off, it's lack of light... they need about ten hours per day, adequate enough so that you could read a newspaper. The big thing is to keep them watered. At one time I had a fount heater but there is no electricity where they are now. I also haven't had very good luck with founts so have done away with them. It's a lot easier to buy a bucket and make sure that you fill it every day. I have two which are some type of soft rubber, so that they don't crack if when they freeze.

I am not home during the day so often in winter the eggs will freeze. As long as the membrane isn't compromised I will give them to my dog. If the shell isn't cracked I never worry about it. You can tell if an egg has been frozen, when you crack it open the yoke doesn't spread as much, but that doesn't seem to affect the quality.

 

[Torvy]

My cousins in northern South Dakota (latitude about 45.47) had a regular incandescent bulb, maybe 40w, they would turn on once it dropped down to negative 20 or so. No need for much as long as they have shelter.

 

[BnRidge]

There was research in the 40s done regarding ventilation and supplemental heat in chicken coops. "Open air coop" and "deep litter bedding" were concepts developed to avoid respiratory and disease issues. Plenty of ventalation (without drafts), no supplemental heat, and a deep layer of composted floor litter proved most successful. Took place in northern states like Michigan. The "chicken farm" down the road has large fans and under eave air inlets to circulate air year round. Lots of air, with no cold air drafts. They house several million, in several "industrial" sized coops.

Examples:

Open-air poultry houses for all climates; a practical book on modern common sense poultry housing for beginners and veterans in poultry keeping. What to build and how to do it. Houses that will promote health, vigor and vitality in laying and breedin

1

archive.org

 

[kenmac]

never an issue with my chickens freezing. only issue I have is they quit laying as much.
I've 8 chickens and only getting 2 eggs per day since days got shorter.

I bought a fish aquarium heater to keep their water from freezing

 

[jyoutz]

This type of heated waterer is the answer. Keeps water from freezing and the closed nipple system keeps the water clean. I also run two heat lamps suspended from chains once temperatures drop below 20 degrees.

Heated Poultry Waterer

Reliable heated poultry waterer for all seasons. Top-fill design with dense lid insulation prevents heat escape. 3 gallon capacity.

www.premier1supplies.com