Storms and chickens

[SushiBelly]

I am a newbie to chickens and have the Eglo Go with three hens. I have been closing the “bedroom” door each night and opening it each morning. I have read in this forum about some folks leaving the door open all the time, just as long as the run is secure. Is that really something I can do? Should I wait until winter is over before I do it so they can be snug and warm at night? 

[Cat tails]

I never shut the door unless it might be well below freezing and on New Years eve because of all the fireworks. Other than that they can come and go when they want. They are well insulated with their feathers so they’ll be fine in cold weather.

[Patricia W]

It all depends on how confident you are in your run security.  The chickens won’t feel the cold.  

[Beantree]

I beg to differ about chickens feeling the cold as I know someone who decided not to go outside when it was forecast -12C to shut the pop-hole of a small coop in a sheltered spot and the 3 buff Orpingtons froze to death.

As well as security it is a question of temperature, location (wind direction) and breed. From tonight I'll be shutting the pop-hole for our Cou-Nu because it's forecast 2C, they have less feathering and the coop is in an exposed location. Below -2C and we bring our bantams inside.

[mullethunter]

I shut the door and put any inside who are sleeping in the run when the temperatures go below 0

[Cazbaz]

Hi I am new to chickens. I have 2 hyline girls and a 3 metre run and go up cube. Can I put them in the house at night and close the door? I’m in Perth Australia. I’m worried they’ll get too hot and thirsty?

[mullethunter]

How hot is it by night?

[ChucksNZ]

On 1/15/2021 at 2:44 AM, Cazbaz said:

Hi I am new to chickens. I have 2 hyline girls and a 3 metre run and go up cube. Can I put them in the house at night and close the door? I’m in Perth Australia. I’m worried they’ll get too hot and thirsty?

I’m in New Zealand, so a bit cooler than Perth, but I leave my coop door open all the time. It can get reasonably hot, and hens struggle with heat.

However, my coop is inside a secure run, and I have an autodoor on the outside of the run, so I know they’re secure at night even with the coop door open.

if your run is secure, I’d leave the coop door open. I’ve noticed that my ladies all have a good drink before bedtime.

[Patricia W]

My cube door is open all year round.  We’re in Oxfordshire where we get -12 in winter ( occasionally) and 30 degrees in summer  ( even less often! )  In fact, one group of bantams preferred to sleep on a high perch in the run all year round.  They went in during high winds and if the temperature fell to -6 or below.   The run is very well covered in winter though and in a sheltered position.  I take the covers off in summer heat.  

Edited January 18, 2021 by Patricia W