Sleeping outside in freezing weather

[SoCal Chicken Mama]

Well, I'm in CA so they had to hide inside in the summer to be in the shade. It was over 100 degrees for several weeks in a row. The pre-fab coop did a great job of keeping them cool. They don't hate you. Mine are young so they have no concept of predators, and I'm not willing to let them find out the hard way, so I lock them up tight at night. All coop doors shut and locked and the run door shut and locked. I don't want nocturnal animals to be able to see them. They actually get mad if I come home late (after dark) ands they've already started roosting on the run roost. But they rush inside as soon as I put that flashlight in there and put the roost up. (I take it out during the day because it's easier to clean of it's not in there.) I only have 4.
I like your new roosts, there's plenty of room and they can get away from the vents if they want. cuddle up or spread out. With the wide bases they can sit on their feet to keep them warm if it's really cold.

 

[aart]

They are only 8” from the wall. Otherwise they’d be too close together I’d think.

Yes, you are seriously cramped for space in there.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Yes, you are seriously cramped for space in there.

Yeah my place is seriously cramped for space too.
There’s room… for 8-10 hours of sleep right? One on roost to the right, 2 to the left, 2 on low bar (under camera, can’t see) 1 on ramp (I put it back in when I saw she tried to fly up and didn’t make it)

 

[Barbill1]

I have 3 that sleep in the tree. They lay in the coop but won’t sleep in there

 

[KimbosKluckers]

I have 3 that sleep in the tree. They lay in the coop but won’t sleep in there

I guess they do what they want or where they feel safest. Mine are now cooping up on their own. I’m so glad I figured it out with everyone’s help. Thanks!

 

[TJAnonymous]

I was waiting for this…I believe it’s room enough to just sleep at night…they were also full grown 2 weeks ago and were just fine. There’s 16’ of roost in there and less in their run. They all huddle together on the same bar when they roost outside.

I had 6 Buff Orpingtons who were in a 4' x 6' coop at night for almost a year and a half. They never had a problem with space not being sufficient. During the day, they would free range through my fenced backyard which was quite large. They only used the coop to roost at night and lay eggs.

I now live in a different house and have over 60 hens across 3 separate coops. My main coop is 10 ft x 8 ft with at least around 40 ft of roost space. Most of my chickens, around 50 - 52 of them CHOOSE to roost in that coop including 5 roosters. They do just fine...

While I do feel the space recommendations on BYC are ideal, they are not hard and fast rules. My chickens don't fight because they have huge runs or get to free range over several acres during the day.

All buildings have a space limit on how much they will support. I'm just saying that I personally don't see a problem with the space in your pre-fab coop, especially with 8 ft of roost space.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

I had 6 Buff Orpingtons who were in a 4' x 6' coop at night for almost a year and a half. They never had a problem with space not being sufficient. During the day, they would free range through my fenced backyard which was quite large. They only used the coop to roost at night and lay eggs.

I now live in a different house and have over 60 hens across 3 separate coops. My main coop is 10 ft x 8 ft with at least around 40 ft of roost space. Most of my chickens, around 50 - 52 of them CHOOSE to roost in that coop including 5 roosters. They do just fine...

While I do feel the space recommendations on BYC are ideal, they are not hard and fast rules. My chickens don't fight because they have huge runs or get to free range over several acres during the day.

All buildings have a space limit on how much they will support. I'm just saying that I personally don't see a problem with the space in your pre-fab coop, especially with 8 ft of roost space.

That’s good to know and I appreciate your reply! While I understand my coop isn’t “ideal,” I feel it’s sufficient. They have access to a huge yard all day long or even free range on some days on 2 acres (though they never go far) I actually have 14’ of roost space in their coop. Once I changed to wider bars they go in on their own now but I also removed run roosts too. Last night I tried putting up one low branch in the run for them to use in the mornings before I let them out…but they tried to sleep on it so I removed it again. Ha! I may give up and let them choose since they’re secure. Thanks so much.

 

[TJAnonymous]

That’s good to know and I appreciate your reply! While I understand my coop isn’t “ideal,” I feel it’s sufficient. They have access to a huge yard all day long or even free range on some days on 2 acres (though they never go far) I actually have 14’ of roost space in their coop. Once I changed to wider bars they go in on their own now but I also removed run roosts too. Last night I tried putting up one low branch in the run for them to use in the mornings before I let them out…but they tried to sleep on it so I removed it again. Ha! I may give up and let them choose since they’re secure. Thanks so much.

With my chickens, they have cliques and there is always a "leader" in that clique. The others follow the leader. If the leader decides he/she wants to sleep in a particular area of a particular coop, the others follow. If you have a certain chickens who've decided they would rather roost outside, it could be why the others have followed suit. Maybe no outside roosts through the winter... You can always put them back in the run when the weather improves.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

With my chickens, they have cliques and there is always a "leader" in that clique. The others follow the leader. If the leader decides he/she wants to sleep in a particular area of a particular coop, the others follow. If you have a certain chickens who've decided they would rather roost outside, it could be why the others have followed suit. Maybe no outside roosts through the winter... You can always put them back in the run when the weather improves.

That’s probably the best idea. I just feel bad in the mornings, they’re all at the gate squawking like spoiled brats to be let out. Haha. I have no idea why they slept in there in summer and choose to freeze in the winter.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have no idea why they slept in there in summer and choose to freeze in the winter.

Because they are not freezing. Like the wild birds that overwinter where you are they can handle the cold. The main difference between your chickens and the wild birds is that the wild birds have more options to get out of bad weather than chickens trapped in a bare run. Just give them options, they will manage.

I agree, you would be pretty cold and miserable out there without any clothing. But you are not a chicken with a down coat. They are not people without a down coat. I understand your empathy toward them but they are not human. That can be really hard for some people to understand.