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Boutinc

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Sep 15, 2019
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My name is Carla. I decided I would love to have a flock of 12 gurls and researched rather rigorously before reinforcing the dog kennel in the backyard of my new home. I live in Massachusetts and we get tons of snow and winters are pretty vicious at times. I have already purchased a large heated waterer but worry about them being out there with no heater. My main reason in getting them is to have all the fresh eggs but, without heat will egg production plummet?
 

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Hello, Carla, and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
As long as your coop is kept DRY with lots of ventilation, they will not need supplemental heat.
As mentioned, light is what keeps them producing eggs although any source of stress will cause a drop off.
If you have pullets, they will continue to lay well throughout the winter regardless of the shortened days. Hens will moult in the fall and likely take a break during winter where they will produce very few eggs.
I am in the "no supplemental light" camp as I feel that it is very hard on their bodies to produce eggs all year, then replace all their feathers and then force them to get right back to laying eggs again with no break. They are animals. Not machines.
 
DobieLover said:
Hello, Carla, and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
As long as your coop is kept DRY with lots of ventilation, they will not need supplemental heat.
As mentioned, light is what keeps them producing eggs although any source of stress will cause a drop off.
If you have pullets, they will continue to lay well throughout the winter regardless of the shortened days. Hens will moult in the fall and likely take a break during winter where they will produce very few eggs.
I am in the "no supplemental light" camp as I feel that it is very hard on their bodies to produce eggs all year, then replace all their feathers and then force them to get right back to laying eggs again with no break. They are animals. Not machines.
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I definitely do not want them to stress and will let the light be what it is without adding additional. The heater for the water will be inside the coop to keep it protected from the elements. I agree they are animals and just want to keep them happy.
 
Welcome :welcome Nice to have you here! Adding some bigger tree branches or logs to roost on, a cabbage or ear of corn or apple on a string, chicken swing etc to the run will provide some entertainment for your flock :) For winter - I usually cover the sides of the coop with thick clear plastic leaving a few inches along the top open for good ventilation. It allows light to come in, wind and snow out. I also rake a really thick layer of dry leaves in the run late fall, it gives the girls something to scratch around in and the leaves break down completely by spring. Make sure you don’t close the coop up too tightly, you want good ventilation but no draft on the birds. Moisture and cold can cause frostbite.
 

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