Heat for the coop

[annagarret]

If you can move the coop closer to the house in the winter, my husband drug ours with our tractor, or put it in the midst of trees to protect the coop from wind and additional snow and ice that might help. We moved the coop close to our house and garage last year and added several tarps over the already shingled coop to protect it even more from wind. I didn't add any heat source at all. I did the deep litter method and made sure they had WARM water to drink instead of cold, ( which takes a lot of effort but worth it). I seemed to worry more that they would peck and hurt each other out of boredom and darkness more than being cold. I live in Michigan and they did very well, just a little frostbite on the roosters comb!

I'm finding it's all trial and error, Good Luck!!

 

[Hokum Coco]

Deleted

 

[whittychick]

If you can move the coop closer to the house in the winter, my husband drug ours with our tractor, or put it in the midst of trees to protect the coop from wind and additional snow and ice that might help. We moved the coop close to our house and garage last year and added several tarps over the already shingled coop to protect it even more from wind. I didn't add any heat source at all. I did the deep litter method and made sure they had WARM water to drink instead of cold, ( which takes a lot of effort but worth it).  I seemed to worry more that they would peck and hurt each other out of boredom and darkness more than being cold. I live in Michigan and they did very well, just a little frostbite on the roosters comb!

I'm finding it's all trial and error, Good Luck!!

What's the deep litter method?

 

[whittychick]

I had a heated water bucket with nipples and heater tape wrapped on the outside. It worked fine. However me being how I am I only had the one bucket and I found myself becoming lazy and not cleaning the container and changing the water as often as required. I switched to rubber buckets (thanks to this site). Froze solid in the morning (subject to -40º last winter). Ice pops out easy peasy. and replenish the water in the morning and check on it again after dinner. Works the best for my hens and me. Hens do not need water once the sun goes down and they hit their roost in my set up (no extra lighting in winter in my coop). Yes egg production does slow down a bit in my set up. However it spikes again as the days get longer. I figure a hen is only good for a finite number of eggs if I keep them maybe a year or so longer it will all average out. Their manure is the gold I really cherish. Here is a look at my bean garden in June.

Oh great picture! And great idea with the rubber waterer

 

[Nicole01]

Here's my heater. We keep it on the lowest setting and our coop stays at 60f. We built a wire cage around it, so the flock doesn't poop in it. We remove the heater in the spring.

We cover the run with thick plastic and they use it all winter long.

We add roosts in the run(all roosts are removable by lifting up). They sit in joists on each side.

I know it's not necessary to heat the coop, but I sit outside everyday with my chickens. I clean the coop/run several times a day too and I don't want to freeze out there while cleaning.

I'm very happy with our heater. If it ever breaks, we will immediately replace it with another radiator heater.

 

[Lvmibys2]

I live in NH, which also gets cold (similar to Canada). I have a coop, and 4 young chickens (we are new to raising chickens). If you do not heat your coop, then how do you prevent the water from freezing? Presently our coop is also not heated, however, I want the chickens to be comfortable.

 

[Hokum Coco]

@Lvmybys2

I still have a heated water bucket with nipples and heater tape wrapped on the outside. It worked fine.

However me being how I am I only had the one bucket and I found myself becoming lazy and not cleaning the container and changing the water as often as required.

Hens do not require watering when they roost.

With that in mind I switched to rubber buckets (thanks to this site). Froze solid in the morning (subject to -40º last winter). Ice pops out easy peasy. and replenish the water in the morning and check on it again after dinner.

There is on BYCer who does not water hens through the winter per say.
All that is done in that coop is a shovel full of snow a day.
Works for that coop no problems (only 4 hens as I recall).

Check out the link.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ts-tips-advice-for-a-newbie/190#post_12066162


Where you are owner and operator the final decision rest with you. There practically as many modes of operation as there are chicken coops.

Hopefully this site may inform you as to what will work best for you.