Bitter cold coming-leave chickens in coop or open pop door and let them choose?

[azygous]

I agree with @BullChick that perhaps you need to simply keep them inside their coop and hope for the best during this weather event.

But do take time, when you get it, to address this issue. We will be getting more of these weather "surprises" as global climate change unfolds over the next few years.

 

[cmom]

Get a 10 x 12 tarp and fold it over.

 

[cmom]

I took large washers and screwed my tarps down where I could.

 

[cmom]

I also took some strips of wood and Screwed them on to help hold the tarp on in places.
Good luck...

 

[chickens really]

Vapour barrier plastic is great. It's clear so let's in the light and holds in heat from the sun..
On cold days I keep my Birds in, semi cold days I let them out for a couple of hours in the Run..

 

[lavenderlunaginny]

Let them choose they dont like cold x

 

[WindingRoad]

I thought about the tarp idea. Any ideas on how to quickly and tightly fasten it up? I won't have much daylight when I get out of work unfortunately. Short of wiring or zip tying each grommet onto the hardware cloth, I'm not sure what would work best. I thought about maybe some sort of clips but those would allow more movement of the tarp and would have to be fairly small to fit hardware cloth etc. Would a smaller tarp be sufficient(up to their size of course etc). My run panels(kennel panels) are 10x10 and the store doesn't carry 10 x10 etc.

I used good longish wood screws around the frame right under the roof/eaves. Still has some ventilation. I just start on one side and strecthed it around. On the first corner I put the screw down the frame fairly tautly minimal wind there. I also banked all around with snow . Snow is a good insulator and FREE. At this point I'd rather pay for it. Only when I need it. Getting snow today. Not much tomorrow 4-8" up to 10" maybe. But we got some rain recently. Snow is too hard/crunchy to shovel now. Hopefully we get a more southerly wind and hence fluffier snow. I would suggest you cover every side of your run you never know which way the wind will blow.

-9F this morning a 0730 my birds weren't coming outside. Up to them not me. I've been out there every hour( retired) checking for eggs and putting out new water as this ACV week. Between yesterday and today so far they've drunk 3/4 gallon. 4 Birds. And they are congregating up in the coop today. The 2 SLW stay down in the run more. I put down a heavy layer of pine shavings with PDZ.Gonna be around 20F today below zero tonight but not even down to -10F. They seem to be doing good. I think they would love to get out a forage. I keep telling them spring is coming.

 

[imnukensc]

I thought about the tarp idea. Any ideas on how to quickly and tightly fasten it up? I won't have much daylight when I get out of work unfortunately. Short of wiring or zip tying each grommet onto the hardware cloth, I'm not sure what would work best. I thought about maybe some sort of clips but those would allow more movement of the tarp and would have to be fairly small to fit hardware cloth etc. Would a smaller tarp be sufficient(up to their size of course etc). My run panels(kennel panels) are 10x10 and the store doesn't carry 10 x10 etc.

I'd use zip ties. The tarps don't have to fit exactly or go all the way to the top. Chickens are short.

 

[bmetz]

Or should I just leave them in the coop and bring water and food inside?

 

[chickens really]

Or should I just leave them in the coop and bring water and food inside?

I feed and water inside all year...