Just built our girls this little coop! Winterizing?

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lancasterflock

lancasterflock

Songster
8 Years
Sep 10, 2015
251
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Oregon
400

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Had to share! We were so excited to ( almost ) be done with our coop. Any tips on winterizing???
 
Make sure you don't cut back on ventilation regardless of time of year.

If you get much snow, have a covered area outside so they can come out without walking through snow.
 
Did you happen to save the plywood window cutouts? I have two similar windows on my coop, they have flaps hinged on top. In the winter I close one side entirely (and tape plastic over it for extra insulation). The other window flap gets closed at night.

I like having them hinged on top (with a hook and chain to hold them open) because if the weather is rainy/bad I can lower the flap and only have a couple of inches for air flow with no rain/heavy winds blowing through the coop.

Very cute coop btw. Also try to keep the poop level down during winter, that prevents a build up of ammonia at night in a closed coop which can lead to respiratory problems.
 
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Thank you chicken canoe!
Where I am in Oregon we don't get any snow, if we do its light and doesn't stick. Should I still cover the run??

Sonya that is a brilliant idea!
Unfortunately no we didn't. My father in law could make me a shutter of sorts I think. Do you think their is proper ventilation? It has the two windows as pictured, also, their are vents on either side of the coop toward the wall and ceiling. I just want to make sure I'm doing all of this right. Ha-ha!
 
lancasterflock said:
Do you think their is proper ventilation? It has the two windows as pictured, also, their are vents on either side of the coop toward the wall and ceiling. I just want to make sure I'm doing all of this right. Ha-ha!
Click to expand...

Yeah that looks like plenty of ventilation. In the winter when it is very cold at night you only want some ventilation up high to keep moisture from building up in the coop, you don't want any breezes/drafts blowing on the sleeping birds though. That is why I would close the two larger windows on chilly nights.
 
Personally, I don't subscribe to the philosophy of no drafts. I know chickens can live in trees. How does one keep drafts out of trees.
I have huge openings on both the east and west walls of the new buildings I've built. The wind blows right through. I've lost birds to summer heat but never one to cold.
I never close off any ventilation regardless of time of year.





 
ChickenCanoe said:
Personally, I don't subscribe to the philosophy of no drafts. I know chickens can live in trees. How does one keep drafts out of trees.
I have huge openings on both the east and west walls of the new buildings I've built. The wind blows right through. I've lost birds to summer heat but never one to cold.
I never close off any ventilation regardless of time of year.
Click to expand...

I have a few bantams, the little roosters have gotten mild frostbite from temps in the high 20's so I worry about drafts in the coop, though I suppose some breeds are hardier than others. Frostbite on combs and feet is very painful for the bird and also permanently disfiguring.

My coop does not have extra ventilation and I do close the flaps at night during the winter, I have never had winter respiratory issues though I do scoop out the poop to prevent a buildup of ammonia.
 
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Sonya9 said:
Quote: Most frostbite is caused by high humidity (often because of lack of ventilation) coupled with freezing temps, rather than drafts.
This is where the balance between moving air up high to remove humid air and too strong of drafts near roosts can be hard to achieve, especially in a small, short coop.
Click to expand...
 

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