Winter is Coming! Checklists, tips, advice for a newbie

[Terri126]

How do you attach the shower curtains to the run??

 

[Alaskan]

How do you attach the shower curtains to the run??

I don't attach shower curtains...

But at a guess I would use those lath strips (thin flat strips of wood, maybe 1.5 inches wide and 8 or so feet long) so the curtain (or tarp) edges were sandwiched down with the tarp or curtain as tight as possible. Specifically to reduce damage by winds.

 

[bigmrg74]

How do you attach the shower curtains to the run??

I don't attach shower curtains...

But at a guess I would use those lath strips (thin flat strips of wood, maybe 1.5 inches wide and 8 or so feet long) so the curtain (or tarp) edges were sandwiched down with the tarp or curtain as tight as possible. Specifically to reduce damage by winds.

You can use a staple gun just to get the shower curtain up, but I would suggest that you do reinforce the shower curtain via strips to hold it down on your coop.

 

[aart]

but I would suggest that you do reinforce the shower curtain via strips to hold it down on your coop.

Would be even better staple plastic to wood,
then wrap around the strip of wood a couple times,
then screw it down to run framing.
Takes the pressure off the fasteners.

 

[mamamama124]

Hi there! I need help on the difference between "good ventilation" and "draft free". Our little coop came with two vents (both covered with hardware cloth) that have a sliding wooden cover on them. One is above the nest box and the other is above the door/window. We have left them open during the warmer months. I'm guessing these would constitute a "draft" in the winter - which we don't want. This little coop is by no means "air tight". Do you think closing these vents during the winter would suffice for "draft free" but still ventilated? Thanks!

 

[aart]

Hi there! I need help on the difference between "good ventilation" and "draft free". Our little coop came with two vents (both covered with hardware cloth) that have a sliding wooden cover on them. One is above the nest box and the other is above the door/window. We have left them open during the warmer months. I'm guessing these would constitute a "draft" in the winter - which we don't want. This little coop is by no means "air tight". Do you think closing these vents during the winter would suffice for "draft free" but still ventilated? Thanks!

I think it will be very hard to have draft free ventilation in that tiny coop.
Bigger pics of the whole thing, inside and out, might help.
How many bird sleep in there?
Is there a run attached?
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048597/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts

 

[mamamama124]

More photos. 3 hens - buff orpingtons. The photos are stock photos...we have it set in an area that is blocked from the north and east winds. They are allowed to free range as they please during the day.

 

[Alaskan]

If those vents are completely over th heir heads I would keep both open. . Unless snow blows in.... then I would keep one open.

If the wind hits their faces, take out the perch and make them sleep in the floor.

How cold does it get where you are?

 

[mamamama124]

thanks! The vents are over their heads. If it's going to really rain hard with a blowing wind, I'll shut the vents half-way...I can see doing that for snow, too. We rarely get snow...maybe an ice storm once a year. It'll get down into teens but winter is typically a spell of freezing temps at night (think upper 20's) to above freezing during the day followed by spells of non-freezing temps.

 

[Alaskan]

thanks! The vents are over their heads. If it's going to really rain hard with a blowing wind, I'll shut the vents half-way...I can see doing that for snow, too. We rarely get snow...maybe an ice storm once a year. It'll get down into teens but winter is typically a spell of freezing temps at night (think upper 20's) to above freezing during the day followed by spells of non-freezing temps.

Instead of shutting vents halfway... if you shut one completely, and leave the other wide open, then the wind shouldn't blow in. It usually works much better at keeping out rain or snow than both half open.

At those moderate temps your big issue will be frostbite. So never close both.