alexRaleighUSA Posted November 24, 2018 Share Posted November 24, 2018 I live in the Southern US and have 5 medium/large hens (Welsummer, Australorp, Legbar etc), all in their first winter. They live in an Eglu Cube Mk2, with a 3m x 7m walk-in run attached. The run has proved to be secure against our local predators; these are mainly raccoons, with their naughty little monkey-hands, that leave muddy prints all over the latches to the coop and run after a wet night! Local chicken forums report a very high rate of predation inside runs and coops, so I'm very impressed by Omlet's security! As the run is secure I generally leave the coop door open at night. When the weather gets "cold", though, I start to close it (and have ordered an automatic door to help with that), and when it gets "very cold" I add the Eglu thermal jacket over the coop. At the moment, though, I'm guessing at what "cold" and "very cold" are and would love some opinions/advice on that. I understand that chickens are pretty good at staying warm, but the roosting bars of the eglu are at the same level as the door so I imagine the cold air seeps in around the sleeping hens. In winter here it can get cold at night (although my neighbors to the north will laugh at that) - perhaps down to -12 deg C (+10 deg F). It's not often wet, though, and there's not much wind. I'm not sure if I'm keeping them comfortable or making them sleep in a sauna! Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted November 24, 2018 Share Posted November 24, 2018 I will have to leave it to others to comment on the thermal jacket as I have no experience of it. However, I can say that I have kept birds at -10 temps before with no ill effects although I did give in and provide them with a warm pellet mash in the morning and also in the late afternoon sometimes, together with a straight wheat scratch feed, to keep them going overnight. TBH I am not sure why Omlet think such a thing as a thermal jacket is necessary, given how much they trumpet the insulation qualities of the twin walled construction of the housing, plus the fact the birds are fully feathered. I guess I am trying to say that I'm sure they will not be too cold, but as to your question about whether they will be too hot/humid I can't answer from a position of knowledge, although I suspect they will be fine and I would carry on doing what you are doing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted November 25, 2018 Share Posted November 25, 2018 I know someone who had 3 Orpingtons, which are a very fluffy and well insulated breed. It was -12C and they decided it was too cold to go outside and shut the coop, so they left the pop-hole open all night. In the morning the went outside to find all three dead; frozen stiff. Then they had the audacity to ask us if we'd sell them some replacements. Needless to say the answer was a firm 'no'! It will depend on the wind direction but I'd have the pop-hole shut below zero ensuring there is sufficient ventilation to get some air circulation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted November 25, 2018 Share Posted November 25, 2018 Yes, I should say I always had the door shut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted November 26, 2018 Share Posted November 26, 2018 We don’t have temperatures like that where I am, but I close the door when temperatures go below 0, and last year when temperatures went to around -4 to -6 I blocked up the gaps at foot level with bubble wrap (left the vents at the top clear for ventilation). I haven’t got a thermal jacket because I’d probably only use it about one night a year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted November 26, 2018 Share Posted November 26, 2018 It has got down to -12 here and my lot have been fine. I just shut the cube door. I think the Mark 2 cubes may not have the same insulating qualities of the Mark1. However, I do remember when I first had them, putting in the pet hot water bottles each night! I think you worry less as you see how well insulated chickens themselves are! I find the main problem in really cold weather is keeping the water thawed. Now I’m retired it’s not so bad that I have to keep going out with kettles of hot water, but it was a worry when I was working. I rigged up empty sweet tins with air holes in and with night lights in and stood the water on that. What a palaver! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 I leave the cube doors open unless it falls below -6deg at night. I bring the water in at night in extremely cold weather and use Snugglesafe heat pads under the drinkers during the day. I don't block up any ventilation holes and have clear tarps over the runs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...