Dewinterizing Coop

[MndaG]

Hopefully I typed the title somewhat understandable. I had a question about removing the plastic from the outside of the coop/ run area for my girls. When will it be a good time to take it down? I live in New Hampshire and even in April there’s a chance of unpredicted snow/strong winds.Yesterday was a warmer day with strong wind gusts( 40-50mph).When does everyone start switching out of the “winter coop stage”?

 

[Beer can]

Probably depends on what your birds have become used to.
I don't 'winterize' open run, open pop door to coops, plenty of ventilation, all winter at down to below zero F with plenty of wind. My naked necks will be out playing in the snow.

 

[MndaG]

Probably depends on what your birds have become used to.
I don't 'winterize' open run, open pop door to coops, plenty of ventilation, all winter at down to below zero F with plenty of wind. My naked necks will be out playing in the snow.

It’s not fully covered in the plastic. It was mainly used to block the harsh winter winds.

 

[Benderb15]

Do your hens leave the safety of the plastic? Or are they hiding behind it? This should help determine if its ready to come down.

There is only 1 time this winter i put up a tarp around my coop and blocked all the ventilation on the Southwest side of my coop. We had a huge winter storm with 80+ MPH NE winds. Other than that my girls have open ventilation in the coop and the pop door is open dawn to dusk. If its nasty out they just stay inside perched on their roosts.

 

[aart]

Hopefully I typed the title somewhat understandable. I had a question about removing the plastic from the outside of the coop/ run area for my girls. When will it be a good time to take it down? I live in New Hampshire and even in April there’s a chance of unpredicted snow/strong winds.Yesterday was a warmer day with strong wind gusts( 40-50mph).When does everyone start switching out of the “winter coop stage”?

I got the title right away.
You'll have to use your own gut feeling.
I'd leave it up another few weeks or so if you can still get snow.
Might depend on the rest of your housing and if they can tolerate a day in the coop during that last(hopefully) nasty winter storm.
I don't so much winterizing, just one small panel to protect the 'under-run'...most my run is open, the little bit I do I leave up until maybe May.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Hi @MndaG. I'm near the New Hampshire border and I took my plastic tarps down at the beginning of last week. I did leave the east side covered. The lowest temperatures are at night and the coop is averaging 40F. The day time temperatures are above 40 and sometimes around 60. I thought that would be too warm during the day with the tarps up. Perhaps take one side down and see how your chickens respond. Good luck.

 

[MndaG]

Do your hens leave the safety of the plastic? Or are they hiding behind it? This should help determine if its ready to come down.

There is only 1 time this winter i put up a tarp around my coop and blocked all the ventilation on the Southwest side of my coop. We had a huge winter storm with 80+ MPH NE winds. Other than that my girls have open ventilation in the coop and the pop door is open dawn to dusk. If its nasty out they just stay inside perched on their roosts.

Do your hens leave the safety of the plastic? Or are they hiding behind it? This should help determine if its ready to come down.

There is only 1 time this winter i put up a tarp around my coop and blocked all the ventilation on the Southwest side of my coop. We had a huge winter storm with 80+ MPH NE winds. Other than that my girls have open ventilation in the coop and the pop door is open dawn to dusk. If its nasty out they just stay inside perched on their roosts.

How my coop/run is set up allows them to still walk around while protected from the winds. I added an enclosure around the coop since we only do free range when we can be out with them. So I don’t know what they’d normally do.

 

[Benderb15]

I would start with taking one side down per the post above and see how it goes .

 

[GC-Raptor]

On my old raised coop, I remove the south side wind block first. Probably today, supposed to be 60s today. Then the west side and finally the north side. I leave the east side wind block on year round. . It's clear plastic glued onto wood framework that's screwed on. Easy to install and remove. GC

 

[llombardo]

I'm cleaning and removing plastic today. I don't think we will see anything under 30 at night and the days have been in the min of 40 or so. I'm leaving the tarp on two sides until I'm done redoing some of the run.