Best blanket

[WIchickMama]

Anyone have a suggestion for a blanket to hang over a chicken coop or barn door to protect against drafts?

 

[Sally PB]

Can you take a picture of the area you want to cover?

https://www.factorydirectfilters.co...MIwsqE_Nby8gIVicDICh0bNAVTEAQYAiABEgIsX_D_BwE

I just used this stuff to cover some of the openings in my coop. No, it is NOT 1" thick, it's more like 1/16" thick. It really knocked down the breeze, which is stiff today. I put it up with a staple gun; I'll take it down next spring.

 

[3KillerBs]

If you post photos of your setup we can make suggestions.

The problem with covering your coop with any kind of blanket-like item is that your birds still need 1 square foot of ventilation per adult, standard-size hen in the winter.

Draft-free =/= no air movement at all. What you need is to have no breezes that would ruffle your birds' feathers at their perch level and plenty of air movement up high over their heads to remove ammonia and moisture.

This photo is from an article on cow barns, but the principle is the same:

Have you read these articles yet?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

 

[WIchickMama]

Ok, so I went with plastic around the run instead of a blanket, here are some pictures. There is about a 2 inch gap between the run and the coop the entire height of the run (approx 7 ft) and then for now I have the door uncovered, but I think I need to cover at least the bottom half of the door for snow reasons.

Where else should I lower the top of the plastic to allow for more air movement during the winter? We get cold--couple weeks total of -20 (maybe not all together but over all) and then average around 0 for a couple months.

It is pretty dry in the run, so I am not sure if I need to add anything now so that it isn't so bad during the winter, but I also think it might freeze some in there so that will help?!

Side with the door is the north side (most wind and snow from that direction but also have a wind block with evergreens about 40 ft north of the run), 1 panel/short end is east side, and the other side is south.

Thanks for the help

 

[3KillerBs]

How many birds do you have and what are the dimensions of the run?

My first instinct is to say that you want a 6-8" gap at the top of the run the entire way around, but the precise size of the gap will be dependent on the above numbers.

This is my brooder:

It's 4x8 and the 8" gap at the top provides 16 square feet of draft-free ventilation.

 

[Aunt Angus]

There's a post I can't find now that includes a 1921 book about chicken keeping. It suggests unbleached muslin. I wonder...

 

[3KillerBs]

There's a post I can't find now that includes a 1921 book about chicken keeping. It suggests unbleached muslin. I wonder...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/poultry-for-the-farm-and-home.1443907/

 

[WIchickMama]

The run is 7x15 with 8 hens.

I know that there has been many references to not the cold but the drafts is what needs to be managed for the hens but if I add the 6-8 inches all the way around the top will it not make it too cold? It was really nice in there yesterday--they were out sunning themselves all day.

BUT I do know that ventilation is key--so whatever the experts suggest!!! They will have food in the run and we just ran electric to it this weekend for heated waterers

 

[WIchickMama]

Also, since the ground will likely freeze and harden--should I get buckets for dusting baths and check them daily or can I just put down new peat moss/sand/etc for them to bath as needed?

 

[3KillerBs]

Chickens have built-in down parkas. They don't even notice dry cold until it approaches or drops below 0F.

Even my southern birds, who weren't acclimated to cold at all, went out to forage on one of the rare below-freezing days we had last winter: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/dumpling-is-not-impressed.1441797/#post-23915397

The goal is to have the same temperature and humidity in their housing as outside.

We keep them dry and out of the wind -- they keep themselves warm. Massive ventilation is what keeps them dry. If they're all closed up, not only will ammonia build up to dangerous levels but the moisture will build up and, via condensation, freeze on their combs and feet.

As for dusting, if the run is dry enough -- and it should be since it's under a roof -- the ground shouldn't freeze too dry to dig. You'll have to check that as winter progresses.