Our girls navigated last winter pretty well. In fact, chickens do better in the winter than they do in the summer, as they can huddle up with each other to share warmth and they can puff their feathers out to trap their own body heat. It works really well. As long as they have a dry place to roost that is sheltered from drafts, they will do fine. Our run was just chain link and fencing that we covered with tarps, on the top and one long side, to keep out the snow and rain and cut the wind. They would only come out into the back yard when I shoveled a path for them. They all did really well, even our buff orpington that molted badly mid February did fine, she did shiver a bit when she was outside, but, she refused to stay in the coop when the sun was shining. You do need to be watchful for frostbite on combs and feet. Cutting the drafts in the coop and providing dry areas for them to spend their day will go a long way to preventing that.
We do not provide additional light or heat. The risk of fire in the coop is more than we're willing to accept, but, I know there are those that will do it. We did use a small space heater for an hour or so as the sun was going down on nights when the temps were way below zero in daytime, but, only when we were standing right there supervising. Our thinking was to take the edge off til they got settled. We only did this a couple of times, otherwise, no heat other than what they generated on their own. I would check them now and then and they seemed happy and comfy. Even the two skinny white leghorns.
I also always gave them some scratch before as the sun was going down and again in the morning. It helps them to generate heat. Toss in some cayenne pepper now and then for extra heat. Not a lot, just a dash. Chickens don't have heat receptors so the cayenne doesn't bother them.
Make sure their water is not frozen, which may mean getting a water dish heater or spending more time going out to the coop to break the ice. Some have used ping pong balls on the surface of the water to keep it from freezing so easily, I haven't tried this.
Keep the coop as poop free as you are able. I use the deep litter method, having about 6 inches deep of pine shavings on the coop floor, and a large droppings board under the roosting bars to catch poop during the night. I scrape the droppings boards in the mornings and toss the droppings into our compost heap. I also rake the pine shavings to get the droppings to drop to the bottom of the litter. This helps it to dry out, and discourages moisture build up in the coop. Make sure you have good ventilation in your coop. If you have condensation anywhere, then you need more ventilation, but, also seal up any drafts on the level of the roosting bars.
Once you've set up your coop for the winter with fresh bedding, droppings boards, ventilation, and remove any food and water sources to prevent condensation, your birds will go through the winter just fine.
We do not provide additional light or heat. The risk of fire in the coop is more than we're willing to accept, but, I know there are those that will do it. We did use a small space heater for an hour or so as the sun was going down on nights when the temps were way below zero in daytime, but, only when we were standing right there supervising. Our thinking was to take the edge off til they got settled. We only did this a couple of times, otherwise, no heat other than what they generated on their own. I would check them now and then and they seemed happy and comfy. Even the two skinny white leghorns.
I also always gave them some scratch before as the sun was going down and again in the morning. It helps them to generate heat. Toss in some cayenne pepper now and then for extra heat. Not a lot, just a dash. Chickens don't have heat receptors so the cayenne doesn't bother them.
Make sure their water is not frozen, which may mean getting a water dish heater or spending more time going out to the coop to break the ice. Some have used ping pong balls on the surface of the water to keep it from freezing so easily, I haven't tried this.
Keep the coop as poop free as you are able. I use the deep litter method, having about 6 inches deep of pine shavings on the coop floor, and a large droppings board under the roosting bars to catch poop during the night. I scrape the droppings boards in the mornings and toss the droppings into our compost heap. I also rake the pine shavings to get the droppings to drop to the bottom of the litter. This helps it to dry out, and discourages moisture build up in the coop. Make sure you have good ventilation in your coop. If you have condensation anywhere, then you need more ventilation, but, also seal up any drafts on the level of the roosting bars.
Once you've set up your coop for the winter with fresh bedding, droppings boards, ventilation, and remove any food and water sources to prevent condensation, your birds will go through the winter just fine.
