Calling cold weather (Alberta, Canada) cluckers!!

[Murdy]

Good day cold weather cluckers! Winter is coming... ugh I hate that thought... but it's time to start to plan I guess. As per the title, I live in Alberta, Canada. Our winters will drop down to -30degC/F (yes, they roughly match at that temp) and colder. I'm trying to come up with the best plan of attack for my girls in order to keep them healthy and happy.
My coop is 4'x8' and about 4' from bedding to the bottom of the trusses for the roof. The girls roost on the trusses, side by side, roughly 5/side (10 pullets). As per the picture below, I've got open fascia (front of coop) of the trusses. My plan is to enclose that for the winter in order to keep the hot air that will rise. The open hatch/door below the trusses will be enclosed for the colder months. As per the second picture, I have a hatch on the bottom for them to access the run. I will be putting in a vent hatch inside the coop that will lead into the adjoining shed and allow for cross ventilation through the hatch (if I keep it open) and the vent inside. The upper portions will be kept vent/breeze free (I think). All 4 walls are insulated. The coop floor has currently got about 4" of substrate, and that will build up over time (deep.... bedding? Not litter... I think... although I get them mixed up). I'll soon be adding insulation below the coop on the underside, and I've just now realized that I've overlooked the roof, so I'll likely insulate up there as well before the winter comes.


What is the best approach for the winter? So... my questions for you:
Is leaving the hatch with access to the run open a viable plan? Or will that be too much cold air for them? Will they use that hatch to go outside in the cold, or mostly just stay in the coop all winter? We do get many "warmer" days as well.
I was also thinking of enlcosing the whole 12'x8' run with sheets of OSB in order to keep the drafts down and allow them the run without a whack of snow for the winter. Good idea? Or waste of time/money?
And for heat... I was thinking of a 150W ceramic heater over top of their water to keep it liquid and add heat into the coop. Good plan? Enough heat? I know some people say that heat is unnecessary, and can even cause issues, but at a minimum, the water needs to be liquid.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all!!

 

[aart]

My plan is to enclose that for the winter in order to keep the hot air that will rise.

Nope, you want exactly the opposite, so that 'hot', moist. ammonia laden air can exit the coop.

but at a minimum, the water needs to be liquid.

No need to heat the whole coop to have liquid water.

I was also thinking of enlcosing the whole 12'x8' run with sheets of OSB in order to keep the drafts down and allow them the run without a whack of snow for the winter. Good idea?

Good to wind proof the run(leaving partially open for ventilation) and have a solid roof to keep snow out, but most use plastic for light rather than wood.


Might help here to see the whole coop and run from the outside.

Trying to think of someone who lives as cold as you are...
.. @Alaskan almost does and may know someone else.

 

[Alaskan]

Nope, you want exactly the opposite, so that 'hot', moist. ammonia laden air can exit the coop.


No need to heat the whole coop to have liquid water.

Good to wind proof the run(leaving partially open for ventilation) and have a solid roof to keep snow out, but most use plastic for light rather than wood.


Might help here to see the whole coop and run from the outside.

Trying to think of someone who lives as cold as you are...
.. @Alaskan almost does and may know someone else.

X 2 all of that.

The trick, especially with a short 4 foot tall coop is to get a vent at the top above the chicken heads.

I like the open fascia you have, but worry that the roof overhang isn't deep enough to keep out blowing snow.

BUT... if you keep the fascia open, you somehow have to get the birds to stop roosting on the trusses..... OR, stop the air from the open fascia going directly at the trusses.

I actually think it might be easier to bring out the roof and then at maybe a foot out from the wire fascia put a plexiglass fascia so wind is blocked, but there is still plenty of air exchanged.

As to the run, yes, absolutely, block out all wind and snow. A roofed and walled run would be excellent. I would leave one section, maybe the exterior run door (if you have one) for air exchange, but wall the rest up. However, as @aart said, it is nice to have at least some of the walls plastic or something else that will let in light.

As to bedding... it is crazy difficult to clean out a coop in super cold temps... poo turns into concrete. I love my poop shelves since that keeps the floor significantly cleaner and everything is much easier to clean.

Hard to tell from your photos... but I am not sure how you would put in a poop shelf in your coop..... in which case you need to be very careful about cleaning daily.... again, poo turns into concrete almost immediately in cold temps..

As to heaters.. I haven't ever used a ceramic one... not sure how easily those break.. please read through my cold weather coop article, it goes over a bunch more important points... as well as detailed heating options.... after reading the article if you have questions, please ask, i love to help.

The link to the article is in my signature (if on your phone, turn it sideways to see the signature)

And... at temperatures that low, light is vitally important so that the chickens have enough time to eat enough.. the colder it gets, the more they need to eat. I have found that even at super cold temps (for me, about -20, I don't get colder), ten hours of light will take care of the hens.

 

[Murdy]

X 2 all of that.

The trick, especially with a short 4 foot tall coop is to get a vent at the top above the chicken heads.

I like the open fascia you have, but worry that the roof overhang isn't deep enough to keep out blowing snow.

BUT... if you keep the fascia open, you somehow have to get the birds to stop roosting on the trusses..... OR, stop the air from the open fascia going directly at the trusses.

I actually think it might be easier to bring out the roof and then at maybe a foot out from the wire fascia put a plexiglass fascia so wind is blocked, but there is still plenty of air exchanged.

As to the run, yes, absolutely, block out all wind and snow. A roofed and walled run would be excellent. I would leave one section, maybe the exterior run door (if you have one) for air exchange, but wall the rest up. However, as @aart said, it is nice to have at least some of the walls plastic or something else that will let in light.

As to bedding... it is crazy difficult to clean out a coop in super cold temps... poo turns into concrete. I love my poop shelves since that keeps the floor significantly cleaner and everything is much easier to clean.

Hard to tell from your photos... but I am not sure how you would put in a poop shelf in your coop..... in which case you need to be very careful about cleaning daily.... again, poo turns into concrete almost immediately in cold temps..

As to heaters.. I haven't ever used a ceramic one... not sure how easily those break.. please read through my cold weather coop article, it goes over a bunch more important points... as well as detailed heating options.... after reading the article if you have questions, please ask, i love to help.

The link to the article is in my signature (if on your phone, turn it sideways to see the signature)

And... at temperatures that low, light is vitally important so that the chickens have enough time to eat enough.. the colder it gets, the more they need to eat. I have found that even at super cold temps (for me, about -20, I don't get colder), ten hours of light will take care of the hens.

Great reply! Thank you. Truly sorry for the delay in my response. The chicken poop hit the fan and I have just now found the time to make a proper response. I'll start with some more pictures.
On the right of the first picture is the fascia on the outside of the coop, overhanging the run. On the left, goes into the run. Second picture is obviously inside the coop and looks at their roosting spot of choice and the back wall that lead into the shed.

I'm thinking maybe I'll cover the walls and the roof of the run (save for the door) with poly, and then enclose the trusses that are open to the outside, as well as partially block off the open trusses from the coop. From there, I'll install a vent into the shed from the back wall of the coop. The vent will be above the roost board. This should then give solid 3 way cross ventilation. I will play the poop board by ear and see if it is needed as the winter goes along.

As for light.... I'll also be installing led strip lights on timers in the coop to give them extra daylight hours. Perhaps a little in the run as well. We'll see.

The ceramic bulbs are solid. Much more so that the light bulbs. I'll have the fixture booked down so it cannot be knocked over by a careless or spooked girly.

Any thoughts on this plan?

 

[Murdy]

Nope, you want exactly the opposite, so that 'hot', moist. ammonia laden air can exit the coop.


No need to heat the whole coop to have liquid water.

Good to wind proof the run(leaving partially open for ventilation) and have a solid roof to keep snow out, but most use plastic for light rather than wood.


Might help here to see the whole coop and run from the outside.

Trying to think of someone who lives as cold as you are...
.. @Alaskan almost does and may know someone else.

Thanks for the reply!

Nope, you want exactly the opposite, so that 'hot', moist. ammonia laden air can exit the coop.


No need to heat the whole coop to have liquid water.

Good to wind proof the run(leaving partially open for ventilation) and have a solid roof to keep snow out, but most use plastic for light rather than wood.


Might help here to see the whole coop and run from the outside.

Trying to think of someone who lives as cold as you are...
.. @Alaskan almost does and may know someone else.

Thanks for the reply! I've tried multiple times to get you a shot of the whole outside of the build. My phone hates me and will not allow it. I'm going to lose it. Hahaha!
I wonder what sheets of greenhouse plastic is worth. I don't like the idea of using poly and likely having to toss it annually. I hate wasting plastic. I'll figure something out.... Maybe wood and led lighting?

 

[CluckerFamily]

For my roosts, I use 2x4 with the wide side being the part the flock roosts on so that they can fully cover their feet with their feathers. I also put corrugated plastic sheets on the three sides of my run to keep most snow out (there is a foot gap from the sheets to the roof to allow yummy snow to come into the run).

 

[Murdy]

For my roosts, I use 2x4 with the wide side being the part the flock roosts on so that they can fully cover their feet with their feathers. I also put corrugated plastic sheets on the three sides of my run to keep most snow out (there is a foot gap from the sheets to the roof to allow yummy snow to come into the run).

Yeah.... The 2x4 thing was an oversight. I'm going to screw a second and maybe even a 3rd one in there to allow for toasty toes.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[CluckerFamily]

Yeah.... The 2x4 thing was an oversight. I'm going to screw a second and maybe even a 3rd one in there to allow for toasty toes.

Thanks for the reply!

I should add that the corrugated plastic sheets have lasted 7 years and a funnel cloud. And hopefully many years to come.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

I'm over in Ontario and I feel your pain! I use a submersible fish tank heater for my water freezing issues, and I only use a heat source in the coop two or three times a season, the girls are fantastic sources of heat into themselves (and I think for the most part it's more to make me feel better than it is for the girls!). I've got a few birds who absolutely refuse to step out of the coop onto the snow if its hovering around the -20 or lower, but if it hits a drier -30, they're happy to frolic as if it were mid june, it seems if it's cold enough that they won't fall through the top layer, they're happy. The first year I way over thought winter, but as it turns out the chickens are a heck of a lot hardier than I am! The drafts will be your biggest enemy. I pile snow against the side of the coop with the prevailing winds and it's a great insulator if you can keep good enough drainage that it won't flood the coop on those rare days the weather warms. I got lucky and found massive plexiglass sheets in my grandfather's garage for run windbreaks, they last a heck of a lot longer than some of the options that get brittle at our temps, or if your resourceful and can find old windows, they even look pretty if you repaint the frames before hanging them .

 

[Murdy]

I'm over in Ontario and I feel your pain! I use a submersible fish tank heater for my water freezing issues, and I only use a heat source in the coop two or three times a season, the girls are fantastic sources of heat into themselves (and I think for the most part it's more to make me feel better than it is for the girls!). I've got a few birds who absolutely refuse to step out of the coop onto the snow if its hovering around the -20 or lower, but if it hits a drier -30, they're happy to frolic as if it were mid june, it seems if it's cold enough that they won't fall through the top layer, they're happy. The first year I way over thought winter, but as it turns out the chickens are a heck of a lot hardier than I am! The drafts will be your biggest enemy. I pile snow against the side of the coop with the prevailing winds and it's a great insulator if you can keep good enough drainage that it won't flood the coop on those rare days the weather warms. I got lucky and found massive plexiglass sheets in my grandfather's garage for run windbreaks, they last a heck of a lot longer than some of the options that get brittle at our temps, or if your resourceful and can find old windows, they even look pretty if you repaint the frames before hanging them .

Yeah.... My main concern right now is what to do about the heat. I think the ventilation issues are more or less sorted out... Just need to be put into practice. I considered the fish tank heater as well, but do like the idea of the heat from the element to help out with the coop. In all likelihood, this will be a little bit of trial and error. I have a thermometer that will tend the temps into a chart for me, so I'll be able to check in and see what it does at various ambient temps.