First Winter With Chickens, What To Do?

[Zebedee1]

Hello everyone! This is our first flock and so far we have been doing great however this is our first winter that we will be going through with the girls. We live in Jacksonville NC so our winters aren’t super cold and harsh but I am just looking for tips on what to do and what not to do for the winter temperatures. Should I worry about plastic wrapping the run or leave it open? Do I close the windows completely or leave them cracked? Any advice will be appreciated! I attached a picture of our coop and run to get a visual on what we have going on. Also we do tend to let the girls out and roam the yard for a bit everyday so they can get some extra sunlight and what not.

 

[DobieLover]

what to do

Provide protection from harsher winter winds but just as importantly, provide ample ventilation.

what not to do

Don't close them up tight.
Don't heat the coop.
Don't keep water inside the coop.

Should I worry about plastic wrapping the run or leave it open?

Personally, I would wrap it to provide wind blocking. Leave the upper foot or so open.

Do I close the windows completely or leave them cracked?

Close windows that allow drafts to blow directly across the roosts and open feathers. Do you have a ridge vent?
Do you have a predator apron on your setup? If so, I would never shut the pop door and that will be an ideal source of low, fresh air intake.
It's a bit late in the season for renos but I would install a long, narrow
opening at the top of the side of the coop under the run roof as it that is an ideal location for high ventilation.

 

[hammyanne]

Hi there! How exciting! How low do the winter temps get down in NC? I’d say keep the windows cracked open if that’s the only source of ventilation in the coop, but make sure the chickens have roosting spaces that are draft free and dry.

I’m in NY and I wrap my run in translucent tarp and do deep litter in there as well. The deep litter adds some enrichment and generates some heat from composting in place. The tarp creates a windbreak. I use a heavy duty tarp so I can reuse it year after year. Here’s a photo of my run mid-wrap: