Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[helen and phil]

Hi,

I have some friends in Finland who want to keep chickens, but they are not sure if they will withstand a Finnish winter. Does anyone know what temperature limits there are on keeping chickens before needing to house them indoors and kit them out with heaters?

Thanks

[Christian]

Hello Helen and Phil and welcome to the forum

 

Try checking out the Omlet US forum here -

 

http://club.omlet.us/forum/

 

More details here

 

and here

 

I think the eglu was tested to minus 10C, but obviously it gets colder in Finland!

[Redwing]

Hiya

 

I used to holiday in Finland a lot - its lovely there!

 

Many Finnish people do keep chickens but they are kept in a shed in the winter, a 10 x 8 shed with eaves ventilation could house maybe six hens in reasonable luxury over a Finnish winter - knowing the Finns that shed would be thick and sturdy wood and solidly built!

 

Straw is commonly used on the floor of winter housing in areas where straw is available (not all areas) a good thick layer is used but this needs turning and checking for damp regularly, not so bad over there as winters are dryer than they are here!

 

Where there is shallow snow on yards etc.. they can be let out on a sunny day but the Finnish people tend to be cautious over the cold so tend to keep them in

 

They shouldnt need any extra heating over winter but stopping the water from freezing would be a challenge!

[Patricia W]

We had it to minus 12 in Oxfordshire this winter - and all mine survived!

[Egluntyne]

Same here. We do have a Scandinavian Omleteer I'm sure. Sonja?

[chelsea]

I am sure when I first joined in 2006 there was a Swedish Omleteer.....

[Redwing]

Temps in Northern Finland can be -30 during the day! incredible sunshine during the few daylight hours though

[chickyhazel]

I imagine you could keep chickens in a nice warm shed, well ventilated but make sure any air vents don't make it too cold! Straw would be a good flooring, and have perches going up as heat rises.