I live in NW Connecticut and this is my second winter as a chicken keeper. We've had a moderate winter so far, but later this week the prediction is -10 degrees and I'm a bit worried and wonder whether there's anything I should do to protect my flock of eight.
Here's my setup:
I have two coops, and the girls sleep in one sometimes, the other sometimes. I built coop 1 last year - it's a hoop house made of wire and plastic, fairly open to the elements. Last year I put some haybales around it and heavy greenhouse plastic over it, to provide some insulation for the winter. I haven't done that yet this year as we have only had one or two very cold days (under 10 degrees) and the girls sailed through them pretty well. Mostly they don't sleep in there now, but they do hang out there during the day when it's snowing or raining as it's pretty big (40 square feet plus a 20 square foot "sleeping loft")
The other house is new this year, and is a more traditional wooden coop, built by a local carpenter. Also not insulated, but definitely more enclosed. Most of them sleep in there, but a few insist on sleeping outside on a roost I built every night no matter how cold it gets.
I've been told by local farmers not to put a warming light in the coop because they get used to it and that's not good for them, plus I'm a bit nervous about running electricity into the wooden house.
Should I replace the haybales and plastic or will they be OK without it?
If it makes a difference, I have the following breeds: one Columbian Wyandotte, one Golden-laced Wyandotte, three easter eggers and an olive egger, one RIR and one Welsummer. The only one with a big comb that seems subject to frostbite is the RIR. Does vaseline work to protect it?
thanks for any suggestions!
Here's my setup:
I have two coops, and the girls sleep in one sometimes, the other sometimes. I built coop 1 last year - it's a hoop house made of wire and plastic, fairly open to the elements. Last year I put some haybales around it and heavy greenhouse plastic over it, to provide some insulation for the winter. I haven't done that yet this year as we have only had one or two very cold days (under 10 degrees) and the girls sailed through them pretty well. Mostly they don't sleep in there now, but they do hang out there during the day when it's snowing or raining as it's pretty big (40 square feet plus a 20 square foot "sleeping loft")
The other house is new this year, and is a more traditional wooden coop, built by a local carpenter. Also not insulated, but definitely more enclosed. Most of them sleep in there, but a few insist on sleeping outside on a roost I built every night no matter how cold it gets.
I've been told by local farmers not to put a warming light in the coop because they get used to it and that's not good for them, plus I'm a bit nervous about running electricity into the wooden house.
Should I replace the haybales and plastic or will they be OK without it?
If it makes a difference, I have the following breeds: one Columbian Wyandotte, one Golden-laced Wyandotte, three easter eggers and an olive egger, one RIR and one Welsummer. The only one with a big comb that seems subject to frostbite is the RIR. Does vaseline work to protect it?
thanks for any suggestions!