Heating or not? The temperature will barely touch 20F in my area.

[chrissynemetz]

I agree, if you have a nice dry, well ventilated coop, you don't need to add any heat.

 

[bruceha2000]

You might want to research the different breeds in your flock but I doubt you have any that are not able to handle 20F

There are likely very few. My Anconas and Cubalayas did fine even at -20°F.

 

[Folly's place]

Coop photos will help here. I think that heated waterers are a good idea, so they have water available during daylight hours. Then, don't heat the coop.
Vasoline on combs and wattles is a waste of time, and rubbing areas that are already frostbitten makes things worse, not better.
I do prefer birds with smaller combs and wattles, and don't have Seramas, Silkies, or any frizzle types. Your birds should be fine, although most will hate being out in the snow.
You may be shoveling paths for them!
Mary

 

[Fintechie]

Windows back and forth, additional ventilation locates between roof and walls - about one inch space around. Doors are in blue- locked at night. I will send some inside pics tomorrow.

 

[aart]

Do you plan on putting a solid roof on the run?
Would help protect the window there...but not sure you built the framing at an angle to shed rain/snow melt.

 

[nchls school]

I will continue applying vaseline/petroleum jelly before frostbite occurs on our coldest days. My experience is that it does help-but not after frostbite has occurred.

 

[nchls school]

And liquid water? The birds might survive on snow for moisture, but when I see the flock rush to the waterers it's obvious what they prefer.

 

[Ridgerunner]

4. Any other suggestions?

My suggestion is that you read this article. We all have different experiences because we do things differently or have different conditions. There is more to it than just temperature or breed. What works for some doesn't work for others because of these differences. This article is by someone that experiences truly cold temperatures and tries different things.

Alaskan’s Article

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

My experience is limited to -10 F and above. We had single combed chickens sleeping in trees that suffered no damage. These had great ventilation and were in a sheltered location where wind wasn't a problem. To me those are the two big issues though chickens with smaller combs and wattles give you a larger margin for error.

If your roosts are low enough that any wind entering that small window is above their heads when they are on the roost you might be OK with that small opening all the way around at the top of your walls. It looks like your big windows are close to the same height. I'm not looking at pure height but more of the path a wind entering that window opening would take to escape. If you feel you need to add anything I'd put some type of "gable vent" up pretty high on what I'll call the sides or the front. The overhang might be enough to keep out most rain and snow but some type of louver could help with that.

Good luck!

 

[Mrs. K]

I am not suggesting surviving on snow, but needing water 24/7 is unnecessary. There is a difference between being thirsty and dying of thirst. There is a difference between being hungry and starvation.

 

[bruceha2000]

True, they don't drink at night when they are asleep so there is no requirement that they have open water then. Mine do seem to drink just after they eat and they will eat snow off my boots even though they have water and there is snow outside which they don't eat. Kinda weird.