Cold winters!!

[BarredRock4]

Would it be helpful if I gave my girls lukewarm water to drink and maybe so eggs and corn to keep the bellies warn

 

[srhmchlk]

I've only been through one winter with chickens so far, and the one thing I know I will repeat is wrapping their run in painter's plastic. It does a great job of keeping the wind out. I want to cover the top as well to help keep more snow out, but I'm not sure how I can do that so weight doesn't build up on top of the run.

Also made a homemade water heater, BEST. THING. EVER.

 

[bobbi-j]

I've only been through one winter with chickens so far, and the one thing I know I will repeat is wrapping their run in painter's plastic. It does a great job of keeping the wind out. I want to cover the top as well to help keep more snow out, but I'm not sure how I can do that so weight doesn't build up on top of the run.

Also made a homemade water heater, BEST. THING. EVER.

That is my problem as well. In a winter where we don't get as much snow, it's not a big deal but you just never know what the year is going to bring. Somehow, the snow has managed to pile up on top of the 2x4" welded wire that I have on top of my run instead of just falling through, and broken one of the boards I have to support the wire. I think some kind of peaked roof would be necessary, but I'm not quite sure how to do that at minimal cost. My run is 12x16 (same size for both coops) and I think it would almost need trusses to be sure everything is strong enough for whatever we would use for a roof.

OP, a little corn would be a nice treat for them, but it's not like a good, nutritious feed for them. Really - good feed, water, and protection from the elements is all they will need for your winters.

 

[srhmchlk]

That's what I was thinking too, trusses and corrugated plastic roof panels set on an angle. Would I get away with pvc trusses to keep project cost and weight down?

 

[Blooie]

Would it be helpful if I gave my girls lukewarm water to drink and maybe so eggs and corn to keep the bellies warn

The jury is out on the corn...some say it helps them produce body heat when they go to roost, others say it doesn't. So that would totally be your call. As for the lukewarm water, well, I wouldn't. They'll love drinking it, true, but think about what something warm does when it hits cold air. They'll have their heads down in it to drink and that condensation is going to form on the first solid thing it comes into contact with - your chickens' combs and wattles. That's a sure recipe for frostbite in my opinion. The first winter here I tried taking out some nice warm oatmeal. Not smart. Teehee

 

[Blooie]

Our coop and plastic covered run in winter. No problem with snowload, no problem with winds we had in excess of 60mps with sideways blowing snow.

 

[bobbi-j]

That's what I was thinking too, trusses and corrugated plastic roof panels set on an angle. Would I get away with pvc trusses to keep project cost and weight down?

Hmm, I'm not a builder, so I can't give any kind of yea or nay on that. It's an interesting thought, though... Let me know if you try it.