Getting ready for our first winter.

[Dusty8ball]

Hi guys and dolls,

I know it is very early to be talking about winter. I have a lot to do before it come, so I have to plan well in advance to get things done.

I built a coop in the spring for my chicks, with good ventilation for the hot summer and made it so I could close it all up for winter. I have not put any insulation in it yet. because the coop is really quite large and I wondering if I should insulate the hole coop or just where they roost? I am in Ontario Canada, and last year it go to below -30degC. I do have heat lamps and straw in the nesting boxers. The flock size is ten. Was eleven, Mr/Mrs Coyote took one.


Any winter tips or advice would be great!


Thanks.

 

[aart]

Not too early at all...good foresight!

Don't really need heaters to keep them warm, they have down coats on.
Will need to heat water unless you want to change it out several times a day.

Do need some of that ventilation left open to exhaust moist, ammonia laden air avoid frostbite and respiratory issues.
Moving air is good in a coop, as long as it doesn't ruffle feathers(literally) where they are roosting.
Good article on Ventilation linked in my signature.

There are a ton of threads about winterizing:
advanced search>titles only> winter

 

[shortgrass]

Something you are going to need isxa wayvto keep the water flowing... Are you using nipple waterers or are they on the ground, do you need a tank heater, where is the hose, dont leave the hose hooked up....etc etc... I mention it because I have a bad habit of frozen hoses, and tank heaters are my best friend ha-ha

While I'm thinking about having to chop ice from a cattle tank...dont forget to have a nice warm set of clothes in the dryer for when you come in from said ice chopping if you forget to plug the heater in..

Past mistakes learned from lol, hindsight is always 20/20

 

[Mrs. K]

Black rubber bowls will work too. Have two, I use a milk jug to carry water each morning. When I go down, I turn the frozen one upside down, fill the empty one. Generally speaking, during the day, the sun will warm the bowl enough that the ice falls out. If not you can stomp it out.

I am sure that if you have a safe supply of electricity to the coop, a tank heater, or bowl warmer is a fine thing to do, but if you don't, they will be just fine. Last year when I had baby chicks, I had another poster recommend soaking grain, draining it, and feeding that too, to help keep the chicks hydrated.

I don't have electricity, so of course, I don't have lights either, my egg production does slow in the dark cold days of December, but I generally get enough to get by. In SD, we get cold, not uncommon to be well below zero, as in 20-30 degrees, but probably not as long as you up North.

Along the walls of my coop, I have lined them with cardboard, stapled to the wall, leaving the ceiling uninsulated. The cardboard should stop any breeze directly on the birds, where as the uncardboard area above their heads should move the air and moisture out of the coop.

Mrs K

 

[Dusty8ball]

Thanks for the input and good ideas. I'm sure I will put them to good use and keep my chickens safe this winter.


Thanks, Guys and dolls!!