Polish chickens in Oregon winters?

[Ngeddie]

Hello, I’m a chicken newbie needing reassurance. I recently moved to Oregon where it’s wet and cold. I’m living with my sister who has 6 laying hens (and has raised chickens for a decade). She closes them in the coop all winter, historically (which feels prison-like to me!) because they’re better off not getting wet and cold.
She got me 2 polish chickens as a gift and I’m madly in love with them. I am SO worried they’ll freeze. Inside the closed coop, I have hated off a section for my 2 polish. I’m not sure if that was the right thing to do. Chickens huddle for warmth but her big hens won’t allow the polish to huddle w/ them and tend to bully them a bit. My polish are scared of them as a result. That’s why I separated them (they can still fully see each other). Because they won’t allow them to huddle at night, I’m worried my two little polish huddling on a roosting bar by themselves will be too cold. It is already getting into the 20’s & will only get colder. Does anyone have experience with polish chickens in cold climates that aren’t able to huddle with the rest of the flock?? Should I not separate them? I don’t want mine to get pecked & injured. I am also afraid to put a heat source solely because in this rural town, we lose power sometimes and I’m afraid the sudden drop in temp if a heat source is lost would be more harmful than no heat source. I’m genuinely losing sleep over this.

 

[arianna7]

Hey! It’s totally normal to worry about your Polish chickens in the cold Oregon weather. They can handle some chill, but it’s great that you’re being proactive. Keeping them separate from the larger hens is a smart move, especially if they’re being bullied. Since they can still see each other, they won’t feel completely isolated.

Make sure their roosting bar is low enough for them to get to easily, and adding extra bedding like straw can help keep them warm. If they can’t huddle with the bigger hens, consider putting a small box or shelter in their area where they can snuggle together.

Ventilation is important, so keep the coop aired out to prevent moisture buildup, but watch out for drafts hitting their roosting spot. If you’re thinking about using a heat source, a ceramic heat emitter or a heat lamp with a guard could be safe options. Just monitor it closely, and remember that if the power goes out, having an insulated coop can help.

Keep an eye on your Polish chickens during the cold nights. If you see them huddling together or staying active, they’re likely managing just fine. Make sure they have fresh water and good food to help them stay warm. You’re doing a great job caring for them, and it’s okay to reach out for more advice if you need it. You’ve got this!(they are beautiful btw)

 

[arianna7]

Click here to checkout this article I wrote about the basics of caring for chickens in the winter!

 

[Ngeddie]

Hey! It’s totally normal to worry about your Polish chickens in the cold Oregon weather. They can handle some chill, but it’s great that you’re being proactive. Keeping them separate from the larger hens is a smart move, especially if they’re being bullied. Since they can still see each other, they won’t feel completely isolated.

Make sure their roosting bar is low enough for them to get to easily, and adding extra bedding like straw can help keep them warm. If they can’t huddle with the bigger hens, consider putting a small box or shelter in their area where they can snuggle together.

Ventilation is important, so keep the coop aired out to prevent moisture buildup, but watch out for drafts hitting their roosting spot. If you’re thinking about using a heat source, a ceramic heat emitter or a heat lamp with a guard could be safe options. Just monitor it closely, and remember that if the power goes out, having an insulated coop can help.

Keep an eye on your Polish chickens during the cold nights. If you see them huddling together or staying active, they’re likely managing just fine. Make sure they have fresh water and good food to help them stay warm. You’re doing a great job caring for them, and it’s okay to reach out for more advice if you need it. You’ve got this!(they are beautiful btw)

Thank you!
It’s so hard to know the right thing to do with them as there is always going to be conflicting advice!

We put a heat source in the last two nights as it dipped to 28°F. But I went out and looked in the windows and the two polish were standing up on the roosting bar rather than perching with their bellies on their toes? Is that normal?
Now I’m worried over THAT. I worry about everything with them. I need professional help.

 

[nuthatched]

As long as they're out of the wind and have ventilation, they'll be fine.
They don't need any heat unless it drops below zero.