Help preparing for winter

[Snoopy11]

Hello my good people.

A few of you know that I have 2 turkeys and 11 chickens now. Previously, I kept the female turkey in the garage during the winter, as I felt it was too cold in the winter for her to stay in the coop.

I still feel that way... as here in Indiana, it gets rather cold... sometimes well below zero.

So... I am wondering if you guys would mind giving me advice as to what I should do for the winter, modifications to the coop (which is a standard metal building)...

I have the capability to run an extension cord out to the coop, and run some sort of heater inside, if that is recommended.

Otherwise, I am just looking for whatever advice that you guys can give for this winter.

I'd certainly appreciate it!

Don

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Please post a bunch of photos for us to see the configuration of your coop, roosts, nesting boxes, ventilation ports, and so on. Also, what breeds of chickens and turkeys?

 

[Snoopy11]

Please post a bunch of photos for us to see the configuration of your coop, roosts, nesting boxes, ventilation ports, and so on. Also, what breeds of chickens and turkeys?

ABSOLUTELY!!! I thought you'd never ask!!!

Here are some. We have a Narraganset Male Turkey... Royal Palm female turkey... 2 Buff Orpington... 4 Rhode Island Red... 1 Black giant... 2 Plymouth rock... and 2 Bantam...

You want names... you say? Ms. Turkoo... Mr. Turkey (i.e. Junior)... Ruby, Red, Ash, Woodstock, Dolly, Bugsy, Valiant, Willamena, Larry Jr., Henny Penny, Patty.

Does that equal 13 total...? Yes, I think so...

Anyway, here are some photos for you guys! Again, I appreciate your time!

Don

 

[KyCoop]

It's good your making winter plans early and not waiting til the snow starts blowing. Do NOT put a standard heater in there. You would be asking for a coop . It's such a large building I don't think a coop warmer would be effective at all. You can put up a wind barrier on your run and coop on the north side. Don't block off any overhead vents but close up any drafts.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I think you have a great setup! In general (any time of year), there's limited ventilation in that coop if it's closed up, but kudos on leaving the eaves open to breathe. I suppose you do get a decent cross-breeze when needed in warmer weather, with a door on each end. It's good that the highest rafters they can get to are still below the eave openings - that keeps drafts over their heads but still ventilated in winter. Good job.

There are strong recommendations out there to use NO heat source due to the risk of fire. The breeds you have are all cold-hardy (you didn't mention the bantams' breed), even Ms. Turkoo. So they should do well in your climate, even in sub-zero temps.

That said...
Personally, I can't sleep knowing my birds are freezing their wattles off in their coop. I like my sleep. So I choose to take the risk and add supplemental heat in the coop, in the form of a heat lamp. It is very well secured, cords are secured, and the lamp uses a ceramic bulb socket instead of plastic. I have a large coop, too - so it doesn't add a LOT of heat, but it does take the edge off on those coldest nights. I only plug it in when temps dip below 15-degrees. I'm sure I'll get lots of scolding from the wonderful folks on this forum for it, but... so far, so good.

It's comforting to me to look out my bathroom window during a frigid night, and see that warm glow in the chicken coop.

But be cautious. The birds DO acclimate to the wintertime temps, and if they're coddled and kept too warm, they'll suffer from the cold.

One more thing to mention, although I doubt your setup would present this problem - others reading this thread may benefit: Too little ventilation in winter leads to a build-up of moisture in the coop - and that leads to frostbite. As long as the coop is ventilated but not drafty, and they don't get too warm or humid, most chickens and turkeys will do FINE in winter. We have some Canadian poultry keepers in this forum, who use no supplemental heat at all. And chickens have survived winter since the, well, dinosaur age. So you can take some comfort in that.

Thanks for posting all the pics! You have a very nice looking bunch of birds! Love your tom turkey - he's gorgeous!

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Oh, forgot to mention: You'll need to get a method to keep their waterers from freezing. I use a galvanized metal waterer, set on top of a heated base. These only turn on when temps are below 34-deg and work great.

Also, I just found this article - and it might answer all your questions and those you hadn't thought of yet! Please read:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

 

[Snoopy11]

@BarnyardChaos

THANK-YOU so much! I appreciate all of your advice! I know what you mean about not being able to sleep at night... knowing that the birds are so cold. Last year, it got down to 15-20 below zero, and Ms. Turkoo's toes were EXTREMELY cold, even though she was roosting... so I brought her in the garage, and she was MUCH happier.

Now, with all the birds I have now... I know I need to start improving.... ESPECIALLY on the basis of water... because it seemed like I had some issues with the water freezing.

What I wonder... (and all of you please feel free to advise...)... but... if I put a heat lamp out in the coop, above the water... that should serve a two-fold purpose... a bit of warmth... and perhaps keep the water from freezing...

That is just a thought I had... maybe it is logical...

Don

 

[BarnyardChaos]

but... if I put a heat lamp out in the coop, above the water... that should serve a two-fold purpose... a bit of warmth... and perhaps keep the water from freezing...

Depends on the type of waterer, I suppose. Cold air sinks. Warm air rises. So if that waterer is on the ground of your coop, it will likely freeze at least near the bottom.

I don't put my heat lamp near the floor - it's placed in the back half of their roosting area so the birds can choose to be near the warmth on their roosts, or choose a colder spot if that's to their liking. I've found most of them choose places near the perimeter of the "warm zone" but never under it. And some of those higher on the pecking order still choose the coldest zone, but near the roof.

In any case, my waterer on the floor freezes anyway, heat lamp or no. So I put it on a heater base.

 

[Snoopy11]

In any case, my waterer on the floor freezes anyway, heat lamp or no. So I put it on a heater base.

Oh oh, okay. That makes sense. So... I think I will go with a heat lamp up in the ceiling area and warming base for the waterer. I do use the plastic type like you find at tractor stores...

VERY good advice here. I REALLY appreciate it. If you have any more advice, please do share!

Don

 

[BarnyardChaos]

If you have any more advice, please do share!

Oh, okay
I don't think the plastic waterers are rated for use on a heated base. I've done it, but in frigid cold it doesn't allow enough heat to keep the water from freezing. You'll want a metal waterer, like this:

About $50 at TSC or other sources, for a 5-gal jug.
The heated bases don't get very warm at all. Just enough to keep water above freezing.

I don't see where anyone else has mentioned it, but you know you could add insulation to the inside of that building. Might have to cover the lower 4' or so to keep chickens from tearing it up and make cleaning easier; stapled 6ml plastic would do fine. I bet it would raise the wintertime temps inside by 10-degrees at least, and keep it cooler in the summer, too (paint the roof white to help).