Can i winter my chickens in a large tarp building?

[newone]

We use our chickens to help with fly control around our livestock. They are free ranging currently in and around 2 20x40 tarp buildings that are open on ends. I have 2 small calf hutches that are dedicated for chickens with their nest boxes and roosts. The hutches are hard to get into and clean I was considering moving the roosts to above the hutches about 7 or 8 feet off the ground with a ladder up to it. Will this work and will it be warm enough for them in winter with one end of the building closed to keep out most of the wind?

 

[Y N dottes]

the two biggest factors to keeping chickens warm is that where they are is dry and no drafts. as long as the tarp building offers both of these then it might work. good ventilation will keep the moisture down, and as long as they are not subject to strong breezes getting to them then they will be able to keep themselves warm with what mother nature gave them. that being said, it does somewhat matter how cold it gets, and I know Canada can get cold. Where I live I Wisconsin (not too far off the Canadian border it will get below zero degrees Fahrenheit, but I never use any added heat like a heat lamp. Also to keep in mind, the more chickens u have, the more they will help keep each other warm, and the smaller the place they stay in, the less cold air there is.
Welcome to BYC and good luck

 

[newone]

Zero degrees is fairly common here for periods of time. They could huddle on the roosts but the barn is open enough that they would be dealing with the same temperature as outside.
Thanks for the welcome there is a lot of information here.

 

[aart]

Do you get a lot of snow....and can the tarp handle the snow load?

 

[newone]

Fair bit of snow, yes the barns can handle it they are from a company that specializes in making them and have been here several years housing our calves.