Hi
First winter for me and my chickens. I have 2 golden comets and 1 RIR all 3 are 7 months old. I have a coop I built from designs somewhere on the web that is 4x4x4x4. At the top are vents on all 4 sides about 4 or 5 inches tall that run all long the top. I have a door on the front of the coop that is about 18 inches high and 15 inches wide so it's a pretty big hole. with the temps getting down below freezing for the first time friday I was wondering do I need to install a door so I can close it up at night and re open in the morning. If facing the coop where the door is the roosting bar is on the left wall running length wise away from the front door. With the vents at the top all the way around and the hole so big to the door I'm afraid a lot of wind will be blowing through the coop at night however when I get up inside to clean it you can tell it's a lot warmer than outside temps. The design for the coop I used stated door is optional but I think I should probably put one on there but I'm not sure. There is no insulation on the coop and temps are going to be down in the 20's at night this weekend. I just want to make sure they are not too cold at night. Up until now hasn't been an issue.
I made a door a couple weeks ago and was going to install it but the hens saw what I was doing and started going crazy. Maybe they thought I was closing it so they couldn't get inside I don't know. Anytime I clean or get eggs or do anything to the coop you would think I was killing one of them they get so vocal about it lol
First winter for me and my chickens. I have 2 golden comets and 1 RIR all 3 are 7 months old. I have a coop I built from designs somewhere on the web that is 4x4x4x4. At the top are vents on all 4 sides about 4 or 5 inches tall that run all long the top. I have a door on the front of the coop that is about 18 inches high and 15 inches wide so it's a pretty big hole. with the temps getting down below freezing for the first time friday I was wondering do I need to install a door so I can close it up at night and re open in the morning. If facing the coop where the door is the roosting bar is on the left wall running length wise away from the front door. With the vents at the top all the way around and the hole so big to the door I'm afraid a lot of wind will be blowing through the coop at night however when I get up inside to clean it you can tell it's a lot warmer than outside temps. The design for the coop I used stated door is optional but I think I should probably put one on there but I'm not sure. There is no insulation on the coop and temps are going to be down in the 20's at night this weekend. I just want to make sure they are not too cold at night. Up until now hasn't been an issue.
I made a door a couple weeks ago and was going to install it but the hens saw what I was doing and started going crazy. Maybe they thought I was closing it so they couldn't get inside I don't know. Anytime I clean or get eggs or do anything to the coop you would think I was killing one of them they get so vocal about it lol