How do you set up you birds for winter? Unofficial Poll!

[Weeg]

Wondering what your winter setups are! For some inspiration, and help and info for other asking the same question! Suggest additional poll options if needed!

 

[Weeg]

Explain your setup here to give others more information! What boredom busters do you use? What is you coop/run setup?

 

[CluckerFamily]

I get most of the wind from the west so I built my coop on the west side of my detached garage. I slide corrugated plastic sheets along three sides of my run leaving about 1 foot gap at the top. The plastic sheets keep almost all the snow out but my flock likes to eat snow so I will occasionally shovel snow into the run for them to eat.

 

[Chickie friend]

I live in central Texas so "winter" is comfortable 60-70 degree weather with some colder days/weeks. I do absolutely nothing! (But in summer . . . .. .)

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

my ducks love dog burrow toys

 

[cooingdove]

I make sure my coop is in good repair, clean it, and let them free range extra before the cold weather really sets in.

 

[3KillerBs]

We haven't had our first frost yet here in the NC Sandhills, but until I can get a heated water setup I'll have to bring the waterers in at night.

The coop is already well-ventilated with no drafts on the roosts so they're good to go as long as I can keep the water thawed.

 

[Sally PB]

I don't have electric to the coop or run, and don't free range. I do my best to provide a windbreak in the run. Today it's windy, and they're staying inside. I took them a treat a bit ago, and will go visit in a couple hours with something else tasty. It's supposed to warm up this week. I'll see what amusements I can find for them when it gets cold again. Maybe some new leaves to scratch through.

 

[Trisseh]

I’ve got heated waterers for all 3 species, separated so the ducks can’t make a giant mess everywhere. Lol.
I put up clear plastic (vapour barrier) on the lower 3’ of the north, west, and south of both runs, and enclosed the open side of the under-coop area with plastic to make sure they have a dry place to dust bathe if they want.
I use reflective heating blankets and the reflective bubble wrap on the ceilings, to maintain some heat while preventing condensation on the ceiling (even with a lot of ventilation, depending on the prevailing wind I often have issues with moisture).
They get oatmeal or other warm treats on cold days, scratch in their bedding for gross days they don’t want to go out, and the duckies get the slightly larger water tubs filled on nice sunny days to have a bath.

 

[3KillerBs]

I don't have electric to the coop or run, and don't free range. I do my best to provide a windbreak in the run. Today it's windy, and they're staying inside. I took them a treat a bit ago, and will go visit in a couple hours with something else tasty. It's supposed to warm up this week. I'll see what amusements I can find for them when it gets cold again. Maybe some new leaves to scratch through.

Do you have room in your run to stack up some intact straw bales as wind baffles so they can feel comfortable going out into the channels between the bales?