Cold weather coop considerations...

[Lucas D]

Hi there forum.
1st time poster.
I'm in the design stage of a coop (with multiple paddocks) and looking for some insights re cold winter weather.
I've been browsing for a while but haven't quite found yet what I'm looking for...

Some details:
Maximum of eight to ten chickens (I have seven pullets now - 3 Red X and 4 Columbian Rock X), say 30 square feet in the coop.
No power for heat, but insulated to R20 with passive solar heating.
Very cold winters with temps down to -20 to -30C.

Questions:
With insulation, is it realistic to imagine that the chickens and their manure might keep the temperature above freezing inside the coop?
With consideration to a roost, what is the minimum headroom required inside the coop?
Anybody have any general observations about how chickens take to cold like this?

 

[Clackclack]

Are you looking for your chickens to barely survive or to have a reasonably comfortable life? If the latter, I would strongly suggest a heat source beyond the winter sun and their composting manure (which creates other issues because of the ammonia fumes ,since your coop would probably have to have limited air circulation at these temps).

Even if they survive, they might suffer frost bite and stress.

 

[Lucas D]

Clackclack,
Well, I would like my chickens to be as comfortable as possible...
However, I don't really have much choice about adding power to the coop - it's just too far away from any available outlets.
I suppose I could rent a ditch witch and install electrical service to the coop, but that seems excessive.

I have read that some of the hardier breeds can be quite cold tolerant, to temperatures well below freezing and that the challenge is to keep their water from freezing...
This observation seems confirmed by the few people I've spoken to in my area who raise chickens...

 

[JackE]

You do not need to add heat. Chickens can handle cold beyond what you are talking about. As far as insulation goes, you don't need that either. Chickens already come with perfect insulation of their own, and don't really need any help from us. Check out the link below. On pg 24, you can read about chickens being successfully kept in -40F temps, in OPEN AIR coops.
Chickens generate a lot of moisture through their breathing and waste. You don't want to keep them in a tightly sealed box in the winter with the misguided idea of "Keeping them warm". That's when you'll see frostbite and respiratory problems, if you keep them in a poorly ventilated coop.
Jack


http://archive.org/stream/openairpoultryho00wood#page/n7/mode/2up

 

[Going Quackers]

If you keep your coop draft free, well ventilated you won't need heat. Your temps sound just like mine, a typical Canadian winter lol My ladies had no heat and they were fine.

I do suggest a 2x4 or 2x6 Roost this way they can hunker down and cover their feet in the cold times.

 

[Lucas D]

Double check on keeping the coop well ventilated.

Thanks, JackE for the link.

And thanks, Going Quackers, for the tip about bigger lumber for the roost - that makes sense.

 

[4 the Birds]

Are you looking for your chickens to barely survive or to have a reasonably comfortable life? If the latter, I would strongly suggest a heat source beyond the winter sun and their composting manure (which creates other issues because of the ammonia fumes ,since your coop would probably have to have limited air circulation at these temps).

Even if they survive, they might suffer frost bite and stress.

+1

Get cold hardy breeds. Southern windows are nice to have for light and solar heat during the Winter. A well designed coop with proper ventilation may not need a heat source; Yet, electric to a northern region coop will make your life and the birds life a lot easier! Your coop will have temps below freezing regardless of whether you add heat or not in subzero areas. Electric to the coop will enable you to add a heated water container so that the birds always have access to water. A light source will also keep egg production high if you sell eggs. My birds have the choice to roost in an open air area outside or inside. I have seen them hang out near a heat source during the brutal cold of Winter. My coop is 200 ft from the power source and I trenched the elec myself using a shovel. Hope this helps!

 

[Clackclack]

I will happily concede that the right breeds can be maintained in extreme cold as low as -30 F or even beyond with proper coop design. However, this does by no means indicate that the chickens are broadly speaking 'comfortable', even if they can 'suck it up'. At some point, and I'm not sure where exactly, the cold will, e.g., affect their soft tissue. In human terms, cold fingers don't feel good, well before one gets frost bite.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

If you don't have electricity to the coop, you'll need to carry water out to them at least twice a day. Those black rubber bowls are the easiest to knock ice out of, without breaking. I use a heater for water. I've used several different kinds and they all worked fine for me. I don't like them to be thirsty.

I don't normally use any heat in the coop, unless I'm brooding chicks out there.

As it gets farther below freezing, my chickens start coming inside during the day, to warm up. Then they go back outside. It reminds me of when I was young and would go back to the warming house when I got too cold, on days I was out ice skating. During the bitterest of the cold weather, they might be inside all day and spend time resting with their feet tucked up inside their feathers. That doesn't happen very often, but we do have times when the high is below zero F. The coldest nights we ever get are between -20F and -30F.

I like a coop that allows around 5 square feet per chicken, with windows and a covered run. I like deep litter, too. Ventilation, of course. I like the roosting area and part of the floor to be sheltered and free of drafts in the winter. That keeps them warmer and prevents wind chill on their combs.

I like heavy weight breeds that are cold hardy and have smaller combs, especially if there are any roosters in the flock.