I need advice from people of the north!

[miss_jayne]

Quote:
that is something i second for sure.

and i also would mention that mine went outside everyday but about 5 days last winter when the wind chills were about 30 below. but even then i keep the windows cracked for extra venting etc.

 

[ams3651]

I have a pretty large coop compared to some, the wall that gets the wind is insulated with the $10 a roll stuff. The roost is in the middle of the coop and a heat lamp is attached to the center post (think T) pointing up. I one drafty wall I stapled heavy duty plastic over and it worked very well. I also made my ventilation near the roof line thiner because the wind was really whipping in. It got in to the high teens in there some nights but they did just fine, very little frost bite only on the very tips of the roosters comb but his past winter was one of the harshest I can remember so I have no doubts my chickens will do just fine.

 

[patandchickens]

Humid air is more of a frostbite threat than cold per se - you can get frostbite *at* 32 F with damp ill-ventilated air, whereas sensibly-chosen breeds in good health and dry-air conditions are generally good to much, much lower than that. So, ensuring good air quality (including, but not limited, to good ventilation, yes even during the winter) is probably the biggest thing you can do to 'coldproof' your chickens. (note that if you live in a climate where the air just IS very humid all winter, you will not necessarily be able to run the coop down as cold as people in drier climates... but, still.)

Heating the coop, IMO, should be the LAST resort. Before thinking about plugging something in, first worry about keeping as much heat as possible IN the coop, through sensible design measures (insulation, not egregiously high ceiling or close it off if it's built that way, lotsa bedding on the floor, structures of high thermal mass to carry daytime warmth through the night, etc).

Also see what you cna do to improve solar heat capture, ranging from good window design/management to 'solarizing' a run to building a popcan type solar heater, etc.

And do whatever you can to keep the coop air dry, so that it doesn't *need* to be as warm in there -- good ventilation, prevent drafts, insulate anything that gets condensation/frost (b/c that humidifies the coop), clean yer droppings board every morning (that step removes a whole lot of water vapor from the coop right then and there!), fix any leaks in roof or waterer, reduce amount of snow that is blown or tracked in, etc.

Again, remember you do not need to keep your coop *warm* (for intelligently chosen breeds, with sensible coop management). You just need to prevent problems with frostbite or hypothermia. Which, for well-chosen healthy chickens in a good coop, can mean getting down well towards 0 F or even below.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[ams3651]

I should add I only turn the heat lamp on if its in the 20's and usually only at night. I have a remote control to turn it of but some people have plug in thermostats that control it. And a heated dog bowl is essential if you dont want to go out a couple times a day to chip ice.

 

[plowbouy]

It got down to -26 below here in Iowa last winter, but normally can range from -15 to 30 above. This is my first winter with the chics and am going to put a small corn burner in coop. We heat the machine shed with corn all winter and it works great.. specially since the corn is free..

So, when my bride sends me to the dog house.. I'll go to the chicken coop instead and be nice and kozy... Guess I'll have to install a satellite dish out there too..

 

[2468Chickensrgr8]

When we built our shop on the property we were also building the coop and they spray foamed insulation in the "roost room" of the chicken coop ....that was the origional coop now I have taken over the whole building building ...so the girls roost in that room and have the rest of the coop to enjoy...In the winter I use the deep litter method and i dont use a heat light unless the temperature goes to - 0 F ....which usually happens in Jan or Feb around here and that is just at night...usually on a timer ....
You have to think what would you do If you have a heat light in the coop all the time what would happen to the girls if the power goes out one or two nights?....also you still need ventalation because it gets pretty stinky ....Scratch is good in the winter the corn creates heat for them....You will be surprized how well they do ...I was....
Also i'd put a smoke alarm in there ....someone on this site woke up to their coop burning down last winter...I remember the photo's...and something to read the temperatures....
Summers not over YET!!! I dont wanna think about IT !!!!!!

 

[Mr_Jeff]

Quote:
I have used similar methods and am not concerned about my chickens in the winter here in Michigan. It is easier and less expensive to physically turn aside the effects of the elements with proper planning than to try and create an artificial environment in an outbuilding. Cold weather mortality for me so far has been 0%.

 

[valmom]

We have had our chickens through 2 winters now with no electricity for the coop (except for the battery electric fence charger to deter predators). I bought one of those little LED battery lights that stick on the wall so I could count chickens and feed and collect eggs in the dark. We tighten up the drafts in the coop for the winter around the windows and doors, have ridge and soffit ventilation in the roof and half the roof is translucent to let in solar heat. We also bank the inside of the coop with hay bales and put hay on the floor along with the usual shavings. We make sure we take out liquid water twice a day that is warm when it goes in the coop.

Our winters tend to be snowy and cold. (single digits are normal, probably 15 days below zero daytime temps a winter - more subzero nights, obviously)

 

[BigBen]

This will be my first winter with chickens. I did a ton of research.
I have a ton of ventilation..4 windows,two roof turbines and a hinged board at the peak of the roof to let heat out.
My question is..If I ventilate to keep the humidity down then how can I keep the heat in?

 

[Whitehouse Quail]

I'm from Michigan, and we only use a heat lamp and keep them inside the whole winter. There are windows that are closed, but I've read somewhere that chickens are more at risk with overheating in the winter because their bodies give off so much heat. It may be something to think about.