Does coop need to be heated thru winter??

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

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Simple, good and to-the-point advice. I agree. Healthy, well-feathered chickens should do quite fine all winter long with these guidelines.

This is the advice given to first-year 4H members in any livestock project. Though it seems to be common sense we need to be reminded of it occasionally.

 

[kari_dawn]

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let me tell you, that statement right there is going to make a lot of people jealous this time of year! Many of our flocks have stopped producing with these shortened days (this might have something to do with your use of suplemental light too)! That rooster was actually a member of our old flock. His name was Caspian, and he was a cochin x silkie. He had to be rehomed because he developed an agression issue. Several other birds were also rehomed, while the rest of my flock was taken out by a predator one night when my family forgot to close the coop. I work nights, and was not able to be there to make sure it was closed.

No, free range time isn't necissary, but it is a chance for your chickens to get some time to stretch their wings, eat some greens, and hunt for bugs. I still free range mine (right now, only when I am home to supervise). I have conditioned mine to come when I call them to make putting them up easy any time I want. I am also in a simi urban setting...but the nice thing about chickens (in my experience) is that they don't go too far from home. People who free range also notice their eggs are a much deeper, richer color, and thicker texture.

Your winterization looks good, but do you have any ventilation in their sleeping quarters? Too much covered can be a bad thing...or so I hear...I don't have any experience with that!

 

[Judy]

I too am wondering about ventilation. In that second pic it looks like you have added an angled metal piece about where people usually put hardware cloth for ventilation. There needs to be a way for humidity and ammonia to escape readily, up high, and that is a good spot. Maybe another side is open for this purpose?

You found the Alaska thread about heating, which is a great one: have you found this, about ventilation?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-VENTILATION

 

[figaro78]

Yes, we have the north side covered completely with the galvanized metal. (Thinking we might put the clear plastic corrugated over the window instead of the metal to let more light in the coop during the day). But the other angled side on the east is left open. Also, I do not shut them in the sheltered coop at nite and their little chicken ramp door remains open. Do you think it is enough ventilation?

I was actually worried that the east angled side and small door would let too much of a draft in during the winter. Your thoughts???

I posted this pic so you can see the inside of the coop with the east angled side at the top left open.

 

[figaro78]

let me tell you, that statement right there is going to make a lot of people jealous this time of year!

LOL!! They have been producing like this since they first started laying in August. Eggs running out of our ears over here.. lol

They are all just big pets. Each one of them comes to your feet to be pet and held. They are like puppy dogs, but we have a 4 & 7 year old, boys, that have played with them from Day 1!​

 

[JodyJo]

my temps are already into the sub zeros at night...

NO added heat....if they can take it, yours can certainly take it!

Keep it dry, draft free, plenty of fresh water and feed, they will do great!

 

[Yay Chicks!]

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I'm thinking that leaving the pop door open will be likely to produce a draft rather than ventilation. Ventilation should be somewhere above the level of their heads when roosting to let all the humidity they produce escape as it rises. Make sense?

 

[JodyJo]

Yay Chicks! :

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I'm thinking that leaving the pop door open will be likely to produce a draft rather than ventilation. Ventilation should be somewhere above the level of their heads when roosting to let all the humidity they produce escape as it rises. Make sense?

I have a door at the floor also, yesterday I stapled up a piece of material....a curtain, they just push through it to get inside and out....
kept the wind from drafting in...yet lets air circulate.​

 

[figaro78]

That is what I was thinking to with the pop door left open. So I think I might give JodyJo's idea a try. I just hope my chickens & ducks are smart enough to go thru it!! LOL!
Thanks

 

[JodyJo]

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they will be...I have a curtain on my nesting boxes also...they love it....always start that, "I am in here"...ranting and get all mad when I peek under it!