Getting the coop ready for winter!

[MrsTush]

Am I going overboard? I came out this morning to our first layer of frost. We are outside of Raleigh, NC so we definitely don't get blizzards but it gets down in the teens at times.
I was thinking of putting up insulation board on the walls, heavy plastic over the wire mesh on the door and closing their windows. Also, hay on the floor instead of the hemp bedding I usually use.
I have a female that sits on the window roost all night so she will be unhappy but....I'm worried about them getting too cold.

Any suggestions?
Here's a picture of their coop as is.

 

[R2elk]

Am I going overboard? I came out this morning to our first layer of frost. We are outside of Raleigh, NC so we definitely don't get blizzards but it gets down in the teens at times.
I was thinking of putting up insulation board on the walls, heavy plastic over the wire mesh on the door and closing their windows. Also, hay on the floor instead of the hemp bedding I usually use.
I have a female that sits on the window roost all night so she will be unhappy but....I'm worried about them getting too cold.

Any suggestions?
Here's a picture of their coop as is.

My guinea coop is insulated and has a huge skylight. I leave the windows partially open all winter to provide ventilation.

As long as they are protected from the prevailing wind, they should be fine.

It can and does get down to -30°F here.

 

[MrsTush]

Ok, great! It warms up pretty good during the day so I can open the windows. I keep their door open all day also so that will help. I wasn't sure if I needed a heart lamp. I keep 4 lights on all night already. I haven't sent through a winter yet with these guys and I hate to think of them being cold

 

[R2elk]

Ok, great! It warms up pretty good during the day so I can open the windows. I keep their door open all day also so that will help. I wasn't sure if I needed a heart lamp. I keep 4 lights on all night already. I haven't sent through a winter yet with these guys and I hate to think of them being cold

You do them more harm than good by providing heat. It prevents them from acclimating to the ambient temperature.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Am I going overboard? I came out this morning to our first layer of frost. We are outside of Raleigh, NC so we definitely don't get blizzards but it gets down in the teens at times.
I was thinking of putting up insulation board on the walls, heavy plastic over the wire mesh on the door and closing their windows. Also, hay on the floor instead of the hemp bedding I usually use.
I have a female that sits on the window roost all night so she will be unhappy but....I'm worried about them getting too cold.

Any suggestions?
Here's a picture of their coop as is.

I don’t think that NC temps will challenge guineas; they are pretty cold tolerant. We are a bit warmer than you are in Oklahoma, with low winter temps only rarely in the teens. Our guinea coop is just wire and a tarp, with one side completely open.

 

[MrsTush]

I don’t think that NC temps will challenge guineas; they are pretty cold tolerant. We are a bit warmer than you are in Oklahoma, with low winter temps only rarely in the teens. Our guinea coop is just wire and a tarp, with one side completely open.

So I can stop knitting the socks....?

Wait until I tell my husband he can return the insulation board he just came back with

 

[MrsTush]

You do them more harm than good by providing heat. It prevents them from acclimating to the ambient temperature.

I didn't think of that at all

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

So I can stop knitting the socks....?

Wait until I tell my husband he can return the insulation board he just came back with

I totally want to see the socks!!!

 

[MrsTush]

I totally want to see the socks!!!

Me too! Can you imagine??

 

[southwind00]

Am I going overboard? I came out this morning to our first layer of frost. We are outside of Raleigh, NC so we definitely don't get blizzards but it gets down in the teens at times.
I was thinking of putting up insulation board on the walls, heavy plastic over the wire mesh on the door and closing their windows. Also, hay on the floor instead of the hemp bedding I usually use.
I have a female that sits on the window roost all night so she will be unhappy but....I'm worried about them getting too cold.

Any suggestions?
Here's a picture of their coop as is.

I hav't seen any -30s like R2elk has since I've had guineas but there have been plenty of -10's and some -20's that my guineas have seen and I'm amazed how well they do in that weather. I do put plexi glass on the windows and have caulked and foamed all the cracks in my uninsulated coop so there are no drafts. They do go out if the sun is shining even in minus weather(if there isn't to much wind), but i find guineas are like humans. They don't like the cold weather in the beginning of cold season but when spring comes around that 40 degree weather you were bemoaning in October feels awesome in March.