Causes for concern?

[Ridgerunner]

You can leave the window open during the day, they will move out of a breeze. If they are sleeping on the floor or the roost is as low as it looks you can probably leave it open at night. Any wind would be over them. Not a problem.

 

[DeutschHühner]

...and those are just tiny 'baby poops'! Don't worry about cleaning their feet, chickens often have poop on their feet. The DE may be making 'cement' out of the poops, I have this issue when using sand in the brooder, so maybe back off on that....it doesn't do much anyway. There are many ways to manage manure, I use a poop board to extend the usefulness of the shavings on the floor and get the poop to the composter daily.

Welcome to BYC!

Thanks HEAPS!! You have helped quell my city boy worries.

 

[DeutschHühner]

You can leave the window open during the day, they will move out of a breeze. If they are sleeping on the floor or the roost is as low as it looks you can probably leave it open at night. Any wind would be over them. Not a problem.

COOL! That's great news! Thanks again for all the input.

 

[DeutschHühner]

1) Now. Yesterday. Although if it's getting suddenly colder they won't have had time to acclimate. I'd turn the light off for gradually extended periods of time, then take it out.

2) Stir and add a fresh layer on top as needed. Some people will scoop it as needed.
2) a. You can make a new composter. Just use a wire roll, form a circle and zip tie it closed.

3) Condensation does mean not enough air circulation/ventilation. Can you open the upper part of the window, if it's over their heads when they're roosting? Is it covered with wire cloth and predator proof?

Thanks! The lamp has been removed. It's coming up on 9pm and I'm going out to check on them shortly. Earlier tonight, they were huddled together on their practice roost, save one who was nuzzled up to the run door. It's just above freezing outside right now, so I reckon it's a tad warmer than that in the coop. We're expecting cold temps but mostly above freezing this week, except for two nights where it may dip down to just below freezing.

 

[Hokum Coco]

We ran electricity put a heat lamp in.

After mounting make sure it has a safety chain.

1.) At what point should I remove the heat lamp and let them depend on their own body heat? Should I keep it in there all winter? If not, is there a temperature point where I should put it back in?
If the birds are fully fledged they should do fine without heat.

2.) We are trying the deep litter method.
I could never get the deep litter to work for me.I have gone with a wire 2" grid (wire the size of a pencil) over my coop floor. Similar to what is pictured below with 4"x4"x4" cubed blocks stationed under neath the grid on top of a tarp to form a drop pit it worked excellent all summer and I will clean the coop before winter sets in and things freeze solid. The grid even keeps you chickens feet cleaner which in turn keeps your eggs and nest boxes less soiled. I live in Canada and am subject to -40º temperatures.

2a.) Lots of people remarked at how the shavings and poop can go right into the composter. I have abandon my composter. My run is used as a compost bin. First I let the hens kill all the grass. Then I throw my grass clippings from my lawn tractor bagger all summer along with regular compost in there which attracts worm and bugs that my hens feed on. I then throw scratch grain in their from time to time and the chickens scratch and keep it aerated. In the spring I move my run and plant my tomatoes. I do not even bother to till the area the chickens have done it all and got my tomato plot ready.

Tomatoes grow so quickly I have to jump back after planting for fear of the plant growing so fast it will hit my chin and knock me out.


3.) I’ve already noticed condensation on the windows at night. Does this mean there is not enough ventilation? Yes.

 

[DeutschHühner]

After mounting make sure it has a safety chain.

1.) At what point should I remove the heat lamp and let them depend on their own body heat? Should I keep it in there all winter? If not, is there a temperature point where I should put it back in?
If the birds are fully fledged they should do fine without heat.

2.) We are trying the deep litter method.
I could never get the deep litter to work for me.I have gone with a wire 2" grid (wire the size of a pencil) over my coop floor. Similar to what is pictured below with 4"x4"x4" cubed blocks stationed under neath the grid on top of a tarp to form a drop pit it worked excellent all summer and I will clean the coop before winter sets in and things freeze solid. The grid even keeps you chickens feet cleaner which in turn keeps your eggs and nest boxes less soiled. I live in Canada and am subject to -40º temperatures.

2a.) Lots of people remarked at how the shavings and poop can go right into the composter. I have abandon my composter. My run is used as a compost bin. First I let the hens kill all the grass. Then I throw my grass clippings from my lawn tractor bagger all summer along with regular compost in there which attracts worm and bugs that my hens feed on. I then throw scratch grain in their from time to time and the chickens scratch and keep it aerated. In the spring I move my run and plant my tomatoes. I do not even bother to till the area the chickens have done it all and got my tomato plot ready.

Tomatoes grow so quickly I have to jump back after planting for fear of the plant growing so fast it will hit my chin and knock me out.


3.) I’ve already noticed condensation on the windows at night. Does this mean there is not enough ventilation? Yes.

I love the illustration! Thanks for your suggestions and input. -40 is insane! I believe the coldest I've felt was -32 in Fairbanks, Alaska. Air sure was clean, though.

 

[DeutschHühner]

BTW, here are the girls on their first outdoor outing.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

1. You're asking really great questions!

2. That's your old rickety shed??!!!

3. Can you move the chickens to the garage? I'd live in that shed in a heartbeat!!!

 

[aart]

That is one sweet building! (SCOFFS - rickety old shed -SMH)

Are your soffits(under eaves) open?
Those and some gable vents will provide the best air movement for ventilation.

 

[PennyM]

I love your shed !