I once had a hen named Gertrude who insisted on sitting in a snowdrift, looking like a feathered icicle. She was fine. Meanwhile, her sister Bertha would scream if a single sunbeam touched her feathers in July. Chickens have personalities, just like your weird uncle who wears shorts in a blizzard.
The bottom line? Your chickens can handle temperatures from 20°F to 85°F without much fuss, as long as they have shelter, ventilation, and water. Outside those extremes, you need to step in. They’re tough, but they’re not superheroes. They’re just little clucky friends who depend on you to not be an idiot.
So relax. If you’re comfortable in a light jacket, your chickens are probably fine. If you’re sweating through your shirt or shivering in your pajamas, go check on them. And for goodness’ sake, offer them a cold slice of watermelon. They’ll forgive you for that one time you forgot to close the coop door.
