Getting ready for winter - what do I need?

[ZaneyMama]

I live in Colorado. With some near freezing nights coming up, I'm trying to get my coop ready for winter. My 10 hens have an 8x8 insulated coop with an attached fully-covered fenced run.

I feed them inside the coop. They have water in the coop and in the run.

What do I need for them for winter watering, to make sure they keep laying, etc? The coop has two light bulbs in it - one regular fluorescent and one red spot light.

Thanks!
Sarah

 

[briteday]

I think we probably have similar winters. My birds do not have insulation. And I haven't ever had a red lamp for them except as chicks. I wait until after Halloween and I can score some free straw bales on Craigslist...people use them for decorations and the garbage company won't take them, so I get them for free. I spread one bale out in my coop to keep the floor warmer. And I keep the other bales for days when we get wet weather to spread in the run to keep the mud down.

You'll have to watch the water situation. Your heat lamp may keep the coop warm enough that it doesn't freeze. But if it does you may have to provide water more than once per day or use a heated dog water bowl.

 

[FinsUp]

If you use a milk jug or sorts with a large enough opening - you could use a fish tank heater on real low. Just a thought, since you already have electricity to the coop.