Building a Coop in Vermont, Do Not want to run electricity for heat, Can I do this?

[RobVT]

Hello Everyone,

My first post in this forum. I have had chickens in the past, so familiar with most of the aspects.

Here is my question, I live in Vermont and am looking to build a coop in a corner of my property, a fair distance from my house. As you know, Vermont has harsh Winters. I do not want to run electricity to this coop, or an extension cord. Is it possible to get through Winter w/o the coop heated? Can I heavily insulate, will the chickens body heat be sufficient, etc?

thanks in advance,

rob

 

[Welshies]

Yes it is possible. I would suggest double wall insulation with fiberglass insulation (and a vapour barrier if needed). Insulate the walls and roof.
My birds are fine without heat up to -50 F.

 

[Folly's place]

The right chicken breeds, in a big well ventilated coop, will do fine. Your issue will be keeping them in fresh water. Either three trips out there daily, or a heated base, in cold weather.
Also, without extra morning light during winter, laying hens will mostly stop laying. If you are good with that, no problem.
WELCOME! I can't get out there to refresh water enough in winter, and wouldn't do without electricity!
Mary

 

[lazy gardener]

Hey Rob, Welcome! Yes, you can build your coop and get through a winter without heat. However, electric to keep a heated waterer makes a huge difference for me as far as maintaning sanity in the winter while keeping my flock fed and watered.

IMO, key to flock management is having a coop big enough (minimum of 4 s.f./bird) to prevent behavioral problems during those prolonged cold snaps. Walk in style instead of short coop (many "shorties" are built on stilts) allows for increased air space, adequate ventilation (vents in many coops are often not sufficient.) Recommendation is multi level, 1 s.f. of vent per bird OR equal to 10% of floor space. Especially important in the winter to prevent frost bite. Lots of natural lighting, with windows on South and East side to take advantage of what winter sunlight we do get!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Fellow Green Mountain Boy here, howdy neighbor. Where you at?

No need to insulate your coop. Make sure your coop has full Southern exposure. Believe it or not there are colder climates than ours, Canadian Plains, and they usually insulate but we have no need. This was the longest cold snap in many years here. Usually it's a week artic blast here and there but his year was over two weeks long. Coop's not insulated or heated and my flock is fine.

For many years I've used the black rubber livestock bowls. They will stay thawed down to teens if there is sun. The birds will get used to drinking up in morning and again before dusk. Being rubber you just turn over and stomp on them to pop out the ice and refill.

If your going to have cock birds you may want to stay away from single combed birds. My pullets and hens don't get any frost but the larger combed cocks do. Basically they self dub the tines on comb and portion of wattles first winter. Wattles are due to frozen temps and drinking from a bowl. Wyandottes are rose comb and would do extremely well in our climate. Chanteclers have made a small comeback and are another good cold weather choice, think they've a pea comb. And of course if you stick with hens then any comb is fine. Stay away from Silkie, Polish or Mediteranean type breeds. These are warm weather type birds.

Any questions you have feel free to ask away.

 

[RobVT]

thanks for the info everyone! any ideas on a water heater I could power by solar? Or maybe a car battery?

 

[RobVT]

LazyGardener,
are you suggesting a coop based on the ground rather than on stilts is better?

 

[Welshies]

thanks for the info everyone! any ideas on a water heater I could power by solar? Or maybe a car battery?

Hand warmers sealed in a plastic bag work for up to ten hours.

there are colder climates than ours, Canadian Plains, and they usually insulate

For many years I've used the black rubber livestock bowls. They will stay thawed down to teens if there is sun.

If your going to have cock birds you may want to stay away from single combed birds.

Agreed. We had a low of -52 F (-47 C) this year.
I insulated my coop. I only use electricity for my babies.
Birds will eat snow no problem. I provide free choice snow and then do one or two daily water trips every day, bringing out warm (but not steaming) water in a black rubber livestock pan. They never crack.
Small combed breeds do better in cold. Large combed breeds will be more prone to frostbite. Look at Wyandottes, Chanteclers, etc.

 

[Welshies]

LazyGardener,
are you suggesting a coop based on the ground rather than on stilts is better?

I will add that a walk in coop is a must have.

 

[lazy gardener]

@bruceha2000 might like to chime in with pertinent information. agreed with Egghead, small combs are the ticket for cold weather: I have Dominique, several types of Wyandotte, EE, Buck Eye. Check out Henderson's chicken breeds chart. Some of the hatcheries have a search function where you can type in your criteria, and the breeds that match that will be listed for you. Many of the single comb birds, including various colored leghorns are also available in rose comb.