Canadian winter preparation- first year

[turkeybirdpecky]

Hello all! We live in south western ontario Canada. Very wet icy chilling cold winters.

We have our chickens (10- most are bantam/small) in a hardware cloth and wood chicken tractor (rats, dogs, foxes, hawks ruined our free ranging experience- our house is just in a bad area).

I am concerned about egg laying and care during our winter. We are going to insulate the coop area and floor with plastic/feed bags and cardboard and wrap the run area with a heavier clear plastic (tablecloth plastic). How much ventilation should I be leaving in the coop and the run?

I read a led touch lamp would be enough light for laying over the winter, and then another blog said it had to be a bright light/ led plant light? Thoughts? Most (as in all but 1 silkie hen, the roo, and a young silkie) are just beginning to lay for the first time now or during this winter.

I do have the option of moving the tracto/run into a shed with windows, electricity, and lights. I thought about deep litter method on a tarp..could work right? Thoughts?


Not sure what the best option is.

 

[aart]

I do have the option of moving the tracto/run into a shed with windows, electricity, and lights.

Sounds like a good option.
You'll probably want power to heat a waterer too.
Post pics(inside and out), and dimensions, of tractor for advice there.

Lights for laying can be tricky.
They must be on a timer so they are on the exact same time every day.
They should be bright enough to read a newspaper at roost height.
Here's a pretty good article on supplemental lighting.