I’d rather not heat my chicken coop unless I have to. How cold can chickens tolerate?
When the temperatures plummet, it’s easy to worry about our flock. Will they freeze to death? Will they get sick? Fortunately, chickens can handle frigid temperatures as long as we set them up with some extra care. Some experts say chickens don’t start suffering until the temperature inside their coop falls to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The lowest temperature we’ve had at my place is 8 degrees. My chickens didn’t mind this low temperature at all, and they live in wide-open, tumbledown coops, with all feeding and watering done outdoors. However, if you want to help them get through the cold snaps, here are some tips:
Chicken Coops in the Cold
Make sure your coop provides shelter from the wind and the weather. If your birds are exposed to the wind all day, they’ll quickly get chilled. Similarly, being out in the snow or rain for extended periods isn’t good for them. So long as your chicken’s feathers stay dry, they’ll provide insulation, and your birds will stay warm. A good solid coop will provide protection from both wind and moisture. However, if your coop is airtight, ammonia can build up, which isn’t good for your bird’s lungs. Providing some ventilation towards the top of the coop is a good solution. It’s also essential to keep their bedding dry. Materials such as newspaper or hay can hold moisture in the coop and aren’t recommended. Choose straw, dry wood shavings, or shredded hemp for bedding. If things freeze up, you won’t be able to muck their coop out during the winter months, so the deep bedding method is a good alternative. Weekly, or more often as needed, cover up any soiled bedding with fresh material. You may get deep enough that the middle will slowly heat up and begin to decompose, providing a bit of extra heat. Speaking of heat, what about heat lamps? We don’t recommend them for a couple of reasons. Animals can get stressed when we introduce new variables to their environment quickly rather than gradually. If your birds have gone into the winter months acclimated to the cold, it’s better if you don’t introduce a sudden source of intense heat during a cold snap. Also, heat lamps can be dangerous. Losing your flock, coop, or outbuildings to a fire is devastating. If you choose to use a heat lamp for hens, ensure it’s hung securely and plugged into a proper outlet without an extension cord.
Food and Water
Even if your chickens are all right in the cold, you must ensure they can access water in below-freezing temperatures. As for waterers, if your coop has electricity, you can purchase heated waterers to keep their water unfrozen. Both bowl styles are plugins and the ones look like more traditional chicken waterers. In the coldest temps, they may freeze up, but you can swap in a replacement and take the frozen one inside to thaw. Alternatively, you can use black rubber tubs and bring the chickens warm water throughout the day. If they freeze up, they are easy enough to turn upside down and stomp the ice out. Open pans get messier than real waterers and have to be dumped out all the time, but they’re probably the best choice in freezing weather. Animals tend to naturally drink less when the temps plummet, and chickens are no exception. If you’re using the open pan style, you could put some treats, such as mealworms, inside the water to encourage drinking. This can also be a good boredom buster. For food, digestion helps keep animals warm when its chilly outside, so it’s not a bad idea to increase the quantity of their ration to get them through cold snaps. You can also provide some extra treats or scratch grains. If you want to indulge them, a pot of warm oatmeal is the perfect cold-weather treat, and it’s cheaper than the packaged treats.
Entertainment
Chickens can get bored when they are all cooped up, and when there is snow on the ground, they may be less willing to venture outside to free range and get some fresh air and sunshine. If your birds are hesitant to leave the coop due to snow on the ground, try spreading a little straw or hay on the ground outside their coop. One brave hen usually decides this makes the snow alright to walk on, and the rest of the flock follows. Cooped-up birds can also feel more stressed and can engage in aggressive behaviors towards their flock mates. Keep a close eye on their interactions and intervene if necessary. You can also try boredom busters. Extra treats such as a pumpkin or winter squash with seeds to pick out are welcome, and we’ve had luck hanging a cabbage for the birds to peck at. Experiment and see what your birds appreciate.
Choose the Right Breeds
Some chickens are better suited for cold climates. Breeds with large combs, such as Leghorns, are more prone to frostbite. Breeds with feathery legs, such as Silkies, can be prone to mud and moisture build-up on their leg feathers. It’s hard to beat a good heavy-bodied and densely-feathered bird such as an Orpington or a Plymouth Rock. Seek out a heritage breed that’s been bred for years in a climate similar to yours, and you’ll help set your flock up for success.
Send us your sustainable living questions! Do you have a question you’d like to see answered in MOTHER EARTH NEWS? Send it our way and it could be featured in the next issue of the magazine! You can e-mail us at AskOurExperts@MotherEarthNews.com.