How to feed chickens in the winter 🥶

[3KillerBs]

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I'm in Michigan, so I know what winter is. @3KillerBs shelter was the inspiration for mine.

Very nice!

It's very handy to have and easily cobbled together from scraps.

 

[Sally PB]

easily cobbled together from scraps.

All of mine was scraps or wood from a dismantled pallet. The paint and metal on the roof were left over too. The screws were new.

 

[CKfarm22]

Do you think there is anyway to block out the run from snow so I don’t need to bring all the food inside

This is our first year with chickens and we’re either going to use Plastic Sheeting, cheap clear shower curtains or tarps. I’ve read to leave a 5-6 inch gap from the top so you have ventilation. As per our waterer and feeder, we are going to get a heated waterer and our feeder isn’t a normal feeder. It’s a pvc pipe with an elbow at the end, and it’s capped off with a rubber stopper that can be removed to fill. We’ve had no problems with water getting in the feeder but in your coop, i would also think about a roof for the run in the winter because of snow fall!

 

[ChickenDude12345]

This is our first year with chickens and we’re either going to use Plastic Sheeting, cheap clear shower curtains or tarps. I’ve read to leave a 5-6 inch gap from the top so you have ventilation. As per our waterer and feeder, we are going to get a heated waterer and our feeder isn’t a normal feeder. It’s a pvc pipe with an elbow at the end, and it’s capped off with a rubber stopper that can be removed to fill. We’ve had no problems with water getting in the feeder but in your coop, i would also think about a roof for the run in the winter because of snow fall!

Yes. Thanks for the advice

 

[Punkybrewster]

How should I go about winterizing it? Is there anyway I could keeps snow off of it, here is a picture of my feed a waterer set up. I have a small piece of plywood above the feeder but it’s not enough to stop snow

Could you just use a different type of feeder and slip it under the coop?

Looks like you have enough height under there to fit one. Maybe set it on a cement patio square to keep it off the ground.

 

[ChickenDude12345]

Could you just use a different type of feeder and slip it under the coop?

Looks like you have enough height under there to fit one. Maybe set it on a cement patio square to keep it off the ground.

That could work but it would be a little hard to fill

 

[Punkybrewster]

I have large metal and plastic feeders under some of my coops. I just pull them out, fill and push back under.

I guess it would depend on what feeding set up you would have under there.

 

[RoosterML]

How should I go about winterizing it? Is there anyway I could keeps snow off of it, here is a picture of my feed a waterer set up. I have a small piece of plywood above the feeder but it’s not enough to stop snow

I would change feeder type, I’ve tried your kind of feeder awhile back and did not like it. Hang a feeder like this under your coop like I have mine under my poop board. If more cover is needed add another piece of plywood to create an overhang.

 

[Lornapaws]

So I keep my feeders and waters just outside my coop next to the ramp leading up to the pop door. Overtop is a piece of plywood protecting the feeder but when it rains really hard the feeder does get wet a tiny bit. My coop is really too small to keep the feeder and water inside and the indoor feeder and water I have a very small for 11 chickens. It would work but it’s not ideal. Should I try to cover the sides of my run and top or put the feeder and water inside

Definitely protect the feeder so you don’t risk mildew in the food. Water shouldn't be left in the coop as it will contribute to the humidity, and when it gets really cold in there that humidity can contribute to frostbite. Cover any gaps down where the chickens are and where the roosts are, while leaving ventilation at the top.
It's the same concept in the run. I'm in the process of covering three sides of my run with clear but strong tarps, including the northern one as that's the most common source of wind here. One side (end) remains open for ventilation and access. I'll monitor whether I need to add ventilation along the top of the covers. My food bins, treat bins, and supplies are against a covered side, which includes the coop pophole and ramp.
The roof is temporarily covered with tarps but we'll be putting a permanent metal roof on before winter sets in. My food (in a Grandpa's feeder) and water are close to the coop, as some of my chickens are Silkies and weenies about the cold. This is my run without the covering.

 

[ChickenDude12345]

Definitely protect the feeder so you don’t risk mildew in the food. Water shouldn't be left in the coop as it will contribute to the humidity, and when it gets really cold in there that humidity can contribute to frostbite. Cover any gaps down where the chickens are and where the roosts are, while leaving ventilation at the top.
It's the same concept in the run. I'm in the process of covering three sides of my run with clear but strong tarps, including the northern one as that's the most common source of wind here. One side (end) remains open for ventilation and access. I'll monitor whether I need to add ventilation along the top of the covers. My food bins, treat bins, and supplies are against a covered side, which includes the coop pophole and ramp.
The roof is temporarily covered with tarps but we'll be putting a permanent metal roof on before winter sets in. My food (in a Grandpa's feeder) and water are close to the coop, as some of my chickens are Silkies and weenies about the cold. This is my run without the covering.

Awesome sounds like a great idea! I put a tarp over the top but it’s somewhat cheap so I might have to invest in a better one