Help a rookie with her first winter (MN)! Pic heavy!

[MommA2K]

I’ve searched for this topic and found some ideas, but every coop/run is so different to decide what’s best for me!

We live in central MN where it’s regularly in the negatives for days at a time, and snow, lots of snow! I made sure to get a cold hardy breed (Speckled Sussex) and I know they will create body heat amongst themselves but I only have 3 and the coop is decent size coming in at 4’x8’. The walls of the coop are not insulated. Our coop is also built inside a pre-existing shed at one of the corners, using two of the shed walls for coop walls as well.

We have one outlet in the shed, however it’s not close to the coop, but I would be able to run an extension cord if needed. The thought of a heat lamp gives me anxiety, I do have an electric warming plate that I had used in the brooder for them.

The ceiling of the coop is open (hardware cloth) exposing the shed rafters. I know you want air circulation, but not drafts. There’s a “window” in the walk-through door going into their coop. As of right now we don’t have a door on the shed itself (but can attach) and that was fine allowing a summer breeze to circulate into the coop. There’s also a “window” on the back of the shed wall that is open (could be boarded off if needed).

I’m using pellets for the flooring in the coop (which is placed on top of concrete). Wondering if I should lay something else down instead that traps heat better? Or something on top of the pellets, which is basically the powder substance now. I do have access to straw if needed.

The run is 4’x10’ with hardware cloth on three of the four walls, the fourth being a shed wall.


I swear it’s like being a first time mom again, so many things you don’t want to screw up on!! I’m so attached to them I don’t want anything to happen to them on account of my negligence. Thanks for any advice!!

 

[Big Doggie]

I’ve searched for this topic and found some ideas, but every coop/run is so different to decide what’s best for me!

We live in central MN where it’s regularly in the negatives for days at a time, and snow, lots of snow! I made sure to get a cold hardy breed (Speckled Sussex) and I know they will create body heat amongst themselves but I only have 3 and the coop is decent size coming in at 4’x8’. The walls of the coop are not insulated. Our coop is also built inside a pre-existing shed at one of the corners, using two of the shed walls for coop walls as well.

We have one outlet in the shed, however it’s not close to the coop, but I would be able to run an extension cord if needed. The thought of a heat lamp gives me anxiety, I do have an electric warming plate that I had used in the brooder for them.

The ceiling of the coop is open (hardware cloth) exposing the shed rafters. I know you want air circulation, but not drafts. There’s a “window” in the walk-through door going into their coop. As of right now we don’t have a door on the shed itself (but can attach) and that was fine allowing a summer breeze to circulate into the coop. There’s also a “window” on the back of the shed wall that is open (could be boarded off if needed).

I’m using pellets for the flooring in the coop (which is placed on top of concrete). Wondering if I should lay something else down instead that traps heat better? Or something on top of the pellets, which is basically the powder substance now. I do have access to straw if needed.

The run is 4’x10’ with hardware cloth on three of the four walls, the fourth being a shed wall.


I swear it’s like being a first time mom again, so many things you don’t want to screw up on!! I’m so attached to them I don’t want anything to happen to them on account of my negligence. Thanks for any advice!!

The dimensions of the coop and run sound generous. You won’t need heat lamps if you birds are fully feathered. But is there ventilation to the outside over their coop? If not you’ll need 1sf per bird. Otherwise seems roomy.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

Your set up seems pretty decent, the fact their coop is a room within a room is great for keeping them draft free and that's the biggest part of keeping them comfortable during the winter. The screened ceiling of the coop, is it open to the elements or the rafters of your shed?

 

[aembry1]

I picked up a couple of heaters for my coops from Tractor Supply. They're radiant heaters, so in my opinion better than a heat lamp. They can also be used as a brooder. It has a switch that will let you choose. These heaters can be mounted on the wall of your coop, or it can stand. Right now mine are standing because we are going to build a new coop and then mount them on the wall in the new coop.

 

[MommA2K]

Your set up seems pretty decent, the fact their coop is a room within a room is great for keeping them draft free and that's the biggest part of keeping them comfortable during the winter. The screened ceiling of the coop, is it open to the elements or the rafters of your shed?

The ceiling is open to the rafters of the shed! I wasn’t sure if I should stack straw bales on the outside of the coop walls for added insulation?

 

[MommA2K]

The dimensions of the coop and run sound generous. You won’t need heat lamps if you birds are fully feathered. But is there ventilation to the outside over their coop? If not you’ll need 1sf per bird. Otherwise seems roomy.

This is where it confuses me, where do I need the 1 sq. ft? The coop itself is inside the shed, there is space above the ceiling in the coop as that’s just hardware cloth exposed to the rafters of the shed. The only other source of air from outside is from the window on the back wall of the shed, the door to their coop, the door to their run and the shed door. I hope that makes sense. Just wasn’t sure what parts I should board off if any!

 

[MommA2K]

I picked up a couple of heaters for my coops from Tractor Supply. They're radiant heaters, so in my opinion better than a heat lamp. They can also be used as a brooder. It has a switch that will let you choose. These heaters can be mounted on the wall of your coop, or it can stand. Right now mine are standing because we are going to build a new coop and then mount them on the wall in the new coop.

Are they similar to this? This is the one I own. Sounds alike! You’ve had good luck with them I take it? Does it actually stay warm?

 

[Gooseface]

You will need ventilation up high in the shed itself. Your shed is sealed off...you want ventilation circulating the moisture from the chickens out during the winter. The cold air isn’t the problem....it’s the moisture the birds produce. As it stands now, the moisture will stay in the shed because it doesn’t vent out.

 

[MommA2K]

You will need ventilation up high in the shed itself. Your shed is sealed off...you want ventilation circulating the moisture from the chickens out during the winter. The cold air isn’t the problem....it’s the moisture the birds produce. As it stands now, the moisture will stay in the shed because it doesn’t vent out.

So maybe cut out a window or place an actual vent on either of these walls, or maybe both?

 

[Gooseface]

So maybe cut out a window or place an actual vent on either of these walls, or maybe both?

I would stay away from adding windows. I would take out boards if you could below the soffit overhang and cover it in hardware cloth.