How cold is too cold for my chickens?

[Ashleys backyard farm]

Hi there!

I have 6 Rhode Island reds just under 1 year old and I also have 3- 14 week old pullets (silver laced Wyandotte, Australorp and an Easter egger).

It’s going to get down to 19 degrees Fahrenheit this week and there’s so many articles online about chickens and colder temperatures.

I’m wondering if it’s going to be too cold for them. If I’m going to need to move them into my patio or if they need a heat lamp/ heater in their coop???

Thank you in advance

 

[SueT]

19º isn’t too cold for chickens. I worry about mine when it’s in single digits, but the only one I bring indoors (to a cage in our basement) is my little Sebright hen. As soon as it’s above 10º, out she goes. She’s 5 years old and has done fine.
Chickens, like your wild birds, have down jackets….

 

[Sonflowerjoela]

Following. Wondering the same thing.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well mine have done just fine in an uninsulated, well ventilated coop with good bedding and no drafts at NEGATIVE 35 degrees.

Single digits do not even slow them down.

 

[3KillerBs]

Hi there!

I have 6 Rhode Island reds just under 1 year old and I also have 3- 14 week old pullets (silver laced Wyandotte, Australorp and an Easter egger).

It’s going to get down to 19 degrees Fahrenheit this week and there’s so many articles online about chickens and colder temperatures.

I’m wondering if it’s going to be too cold for them. If I’m going to need to move them into my patio or if they need a heat lamp/ heater in their coop???

Thank you in advance

19F is nothing to a chicken.

Even my soft, southern chickens -- the ones who think 90F is a cool day in July -- handle that just fine in their open air coop.

 

[WI chickens]

Mine are out in an uninsulated open air coop. Every winter I get -20 to -30F for at least a week or two, sometimes longer. My birds are most often found standing right in front of the big open front windows.

 

[Goatm0m]

I understand chickens getting used to the cold up north, but I worry about my young hens here in Tennessee where it’s 55F during the day and then is supposed to drop to 9F Friday early morning. They are in an open run with some hiding spots but prefer to roost in a tire set vertically with shavings in it. I am worried about the temp fluctuations and them not having time to work up to it. Is this not a real concern? They were all born this past summer.

 

[ChillnChick]

I understand chickens getting used to the cold up north, but I worry about my young hens here in Tennessee where it’s 55F during the day and then is supposed to drop to 9F Friday early morning. They are in an open run with some hiding spots but prefer to roost in a tire set vertically with shavings in it. I am worried about the temp fluctuations and them not having time to work up to it. Is this not a real concern? They were all born this past summer.

Sorry, I don’t have any suggestions as I’m in the exact same position (with the same concerns) with young hens in eastern Tennessee. They are forecasting 3 nights of teens down to 4 degrees with days in the 20s coming up this week. It’s a huge change from the norm and I have only a small prefab thats currently mostly wrapped with a tarp to limit the wind in freezing temps.

 

[WIchickMama]

Well mine have done just fine in an uninsulated, well ventilated coop with good bedding and no drafts at NEGATIVE 35 degrees.

Single digits do not even slow them down.

This is us too! We are headed to negative 35-40 degrees this week and I am not worried. Like @Mrs. K said no drafts and well ventilated coops are the key.

It was -6F yesterday morning and all my girls came out of the coop at 6:45 am like it was just an ordinary day.

 

[3KillerBs]

It’s a huge change from the norm and I have only a small prefab thats currently mostly wrapped with a tarp to limit the wind in freezing temps.

Don't over-do the wrapping. Chickens need ventilation just as much in the winter as in the summer and prefabs are notoriously ill-ventilated to start with.

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