Winterizing Question

If you lost birds to frostbite then you don't have enough ventilation in the coop. Or you have a venting design that allows wind to blow on the birds which will ruffle feathers causing them to loose the air pockets that make up their insulation to keep in heat- they freeze to death if this happens, it's not frost rather frozen. Frost can occur at 32F, it's moisture in air literally condensing on birds combs and freezing. If properly ventilated the moisture will move up and out of the coop- no frost bite.

Wind chill should never be a factor in temperature. Your coop should not have wind so it's not a factor. Your run can be covered on a corner or two sides to shield from direction of prevailing winter winds. This stops wind chill, stops feathers from ruffling and chickens can keep natural insulation of air pockets trapped in feathers to stay warm.

I live in the North East Kingdom of Vermont. It's a half climate zone colder than New Hampshire. 3a here to your 3b climate. By the way, Howdy neighbor. Sorry about taking all that Connecticut River valley land back in the 1700's. I'm sorry because we should have never given it back! LOL.

kamichaud11692 said:

I forgot to mention... a neighbor told me that piling snow around all sides of the coop will keep it warmer. Since snow is only around 32 degrees, it will always keep a coop around that temp. He said since my coop is small, to pile it all the way to the roof.

Is this true? What do you think?

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Yes remember fresh air/ ventilation. Otherwise, the inside of the coop will get too damp (because there is nowhere for the damp to escape to) and that is when the real danger starts for chickens!