Hi from the UK

[Ukchickenchap]

Ady 50 year old man.. Just built a odd shaped coop/run out old floor beams and mesh off eBay in the corner of the garden with a bought 6hen coup in middle with a frame roof covered with a torp, a 40 foot low fenced out side run to the side of it.. 4 hybrid lady's just started giving 2 or 3 eggs a day.. As winter just starts to set in..Just put a tar paper cover with some foil wall heat retaining lining on the roof and side nest box on either side... Will this be OK when we get colder and snow?? When they come out the coup in mornings they are outside but under the tarp cover and the outer run has not cover.. Just how hardy are chickens?

 

[boskelli1571]

Hello & welcome! I live in upstate NY where the winters' are pretty chilly. My coop has no insulation and the girls do just fine. If you go to the learning center tab, you will find lots of info. on coops - to heat/or not.
Where in England are you? Sue

 

[petrel]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome to BYC! X2 that as long as they have shelter from the wind, chickens are pretty cold hardy, people keep them where it gets down to -20F and lower without heat. Here is a long thread on winterizing. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/822765/winter-is-coming-checklists-tips-advice-for-a-newbie

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Plenty of draft-free ventilation is better than heat or insulation - we get very cold here (that -20 F thing that was mentioned) and one window of the coop is at least cracked open all year.

 

[Ukchickenchap]

Well had a look aaround site and its full of hands on tested advice.. Thanks for the welcomes and links/advice on day one,, must say still feel uneasy about them being out in little more than a dog kennel with little more then a dry roof keeping them warm.. Have read a few posts about how hardy they really are.. Only had them about 6weeks as got them at point of lay.. And when one got out was putting leaflets in doors at 7am next morning on local streets. Got her back and she's certainly the ring leader of all things and all surprises since (Lillie bight rich red colour into everything first) and am myself surprised how fast you start to worry about them... Sue I'm in Mansfield.. Sort of in the middle of England... It's a area know as the East Midlands but that's about 4 county's the county I'm in is Nottinghamshire famous in history for robbin hood.. Famous now for closed coal mines cheap housing and poles and other eastern European folks takeing over lol

 

[boskelli1571]

I know roughly where you are! I spent 4 years in Cumbria - beautiful area! I was recently back in UK and I see what you mean about empty houses and generally depressed state

. Sue

 

[drumstick diva]

Most breeds tolerate cold much better than they handle heat.

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[All Henned Up]

Welcome and enjoy BYC!
Steve