Anyone ever put chickens in greenhouse for winter?

[rainy day ducks]

I have been toying with the idea of getting some broilers and housing them in my greenhouse in the winter. I do have heat in the greenhouse if needed. Our temps can get into the tens but rarely colder. There is decent ventilation in the greenhouse. I have low to the ground raised beds. Anyone ever done this? Is there anything I need to know, do, or not do?

 

[farmer9989]

I don't think the green house needs all that nitrogen , ammonia might be a problem
the chickens don't need it that humid.
I have thought of doing it my self with a portable ,sorta like a tractor.
maybe someone more high tech will speak up with draw back or positive view.

 

[Beekissed]

Joel Salatin does it every winter...chickens and rabbits in his greenhouses and sometimes even pigs in with them also.

 

[FenDruadin]

I've seen it done. Some folks in this area with a Joel Salatin-style (permaculture-ish) back yard let the chickens forage & roam in the greenhouse all year, and shut them in when it gets cold. The nitrogen is great for the plants. Just be careful not to give them access to beds with young plants or seeds, because they'll dig them up and eat them!

 

[SteveBaz]

I read that article posted in a thread about how cold chickens could stand and open ended chicken house in the Midwest about 1903 taking the ends off and making an open hen house. They where experimenting how cold chickens could take it before the egg production was reduced and it was not reduced at all but in fact increased.