Heat or not

[Mtman]

We just started our chicken adventures. I built this coop which is about 8x10 and open to the north. Just outside of the coop is a 12x19 run with a shed roof covering six feet from the coop out.
My question is-should I build a wall and a door to the coop for the winter? I’m in Iowa so it can get pretty cold and windy.
Thanks

 

[RojoMarz]

Are you saying the North side is totally open? If so, I would think in Iowa, you would need four walls (and a door) in the winter.

 

[Mtman]

That’s what I was thinking.

 

[aart]

Yes, 4 walls, but winter ventilation up high.
What does the roof lines look like?
Open soffits are the best winter ventilation, IMO.

 

[Alaskan]

View attachment 2227559
We just started our chicken adventures. I built this coop which is about 8x10 and open to the north. Just outside of the coop is a 12x19 run with a shed roof covering six feet from the coop out.
My question is-should I build a wall and a door to the coop for the winter? I’m in Iowa so it can get pretty cold and windy.
Thanks

Can you extend the shed roof? So it connects to the coop? That could give you more sheltered snow free space, that would be very nice!

In snowy areas, walls are nice, but great big wire areas that let in lots of air are also good. The trick is to set up the coop so that snow does not blow in.

If you look up a Woods style coop, you will see that they have a front wall that is about 1/2 or so wire, but the way the coop is set up the snow does NOT blow in (well,in a super storm maybe an inch or 2, but not more than that)

 

[Mtman]

Yes, 4 walls, but winter ventilation up high.
What does the roof lines look like?
Open soffits are the best winter ventilation, IMO.

I put in a vent two days ago up high. I have a shed roof without open soffits which is why I put the venting in.

I showed a friend the coop today and she said I should close it off so that’s what I’ll do.

 

[Unswydd]

My coop is a chain link dog kennel. It's open (except for the roof and west side) for the summer and has a giant tarp that wraps around in the winter. They do quite well in it so far.