How do YOU winterize your coop?

[Becksdunn]

They can't drink frozen water, and water is more necessary than food. If you live somewhere where it is freezing most of the day the birds go thirsty..no bueno!

Oh now i feel real smart, yes of course they can not drink frozen water. i guess i was not thinking clearly, i live in California not to much freezing going on here.

 

[bobbi-j]

Oh now i feel real smart, yes of course they can not drink frozen water. i guess i was not thinking clearly, i live in California not to much freezing going on here.

No worries - if it's not something you deal with on a regular basis, it's not going to be on your radar.

 

[br2600]

I'm going to get one of those heaters you put under the fount for this winter

 

[Muscovy-palooza]

I bought a silver tarp at harbor freight with a coupon of course the size of my coop/run that covers top and sides. The tarp is sun reflective, waterproof, and snow proof. It’s important that it states all three otherwise it isn’t. $14-15. I’m told straw is great also but putting in dry leaves with current mulch at this time since free and abundant but may switch to straw when cooler here. Little bit worried about straw as saw examples of impacted crop due to straw when chickens tried to eat it. Not sure how often this happens. My girls pick occasionally at their mulch but more or less moving it looking in it for goodies than trying to eat it. Not sure yet about waterer. Read online you can stick water bottle filled with salt, close up tight, and stick in water fountain to prevent freezing. Debating that or de-icer for it.

Do you know anyone that has tried the bottled salt tactic? I use two five gallon buckets with spickets around the bottom so this would be a good option for me to try.

 

[Melky]

Do you know anyone that has tried the bottled salt tactic? I use two five gallon buckets with spickets around the bottom so this would be a good option for me to try.

See you tube video to make:

 

[HeidiN]

We use a heated dog bowl for water. I was able to buy one used from Someone getting out of chickens. I put 4 or 6mil plastic sheeting on the southwest side of their fence to block wind and snow. Because it’s clear, on sunny days it actually warms their run area a little. They have a roof over their run now, so no more shoveling the chickens out on snowy mornings! I’m so excited about that.
Last year, I used hog panels supported in a half circle by t-posts, and covered that with the plastic too. That gave them a dry area. Just make sure you shake the snow off frequently so it doesn’t collapse. This year I am using that hoop structure in their “free range” winter run, so they still can go out in the snow if they want.

 

[Amer]

Do you know anyone that has tried the bottled salt tactic? I use two five gallon buckets with spickets around the bottom so this would be a good option for me to try.

I have a heater you can put into the water for that.

 

[dunnmom]

Poly foam board applied to two windward walls on the OUTside of the coop (my chickens love to eat styrofoam a little too much). Black garden weed cloth applied on top of insulation board and to the roof. It’s breathable and it absorbs some heat from the sun. Beyond that, lots of extra bedding. This combination adds about 10-15 more degrees from the outside air without sacrificing too much ventilation in my setup. This seems to be adequate in my climate and typical winter weather conditions. I wish we could have tarps around the run, but it gets too windy here for them. They don’t last.

 

[Muscovy-palooza]

I have a heater you can put into the water for that.

I don't have electricity in my duck house.

 

[Muscovy-palooza]

See you tube video to make:

That's awesome! Thank you for sharing. I actually subscribe to this youtube channel.