I'm very confused whether to heat my coop or not, as well as having proper ventilation.

[SuziCue]

Where is the ventilation in your current hen-house? Do you crack that window, or what? The window is just a screen, no pane.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Where is the ventilation in your current hen-house? Do you crack that window, or what?

The window is just a screen, no pane.

You have plenty of ventilation, then. If you're worried about the cold, you could devise a cover for the window that you pull down at night and open up during the day.

I'm forever opening and shutting windows in my hen-house, based on the temperature, the direction of the wind, and dampness in the air, and if I think I can smell a whiff of ammonia or not.

 

[nikchic]

That is exactly what I am trying to avoid is stressing about my windows. I stressed all summer long and drove my family crazy running back and forth. I need to start sleeping with ease as all I've been doing is worrying about my 4 chickens. The weather changes so quickly here (Canada ) and I am at work lots so I want to make sure they are ok in case heavy winds come and I'm not there or it's in the middle of the night. I know we need more ventilation as I don't like to have the two big windows open at night. We will add some vents up top that will stay open. Our neighbors have had chickens for years and think I am crazy with all the worrying I do. They have no heat no insulation an open door and many cracks and they all do fine even when we are at -20 C. So if anyone has a way to tell me how I can make this more stress free please do tell.

 

[nikchic]

Welcome to Backyardchickens nikchic! I'm also a fellow BC'er up in Vanderhoof, BC. Temps sometimes drop down to -35 celcius up here. I don't heat my henhouse. I do have more hens than you do, so they do generate a bit more heat, but your hens will adjust. Heating part time probably makes it harder for them to acclimate to the cold when the heater isn't on so I wouldn't bother with the heat lamp. Choose a relatively warm, sunny day as the day you no longer turn on the lamp. Your coop is insulated too, so that's great! If you are overly concerned with the size of the coop being too large for them, just section part of it off so they have less to 'warm'. Make sure they have a nice wide wood roost (not metal) so they can blanket their feet with the feathers, give them nice thick shavings on the floor and if you shake it regularly and add fresh on top, the poop will fall to the bottom and generate it's own heat! I also make sure that the hens have a good feed late in the day so that they have revved their metabolism up before bedtime. Because of our work schedule I feed at night and grain in the morning. Ventilation is a must otherwise you build up ammonia and moisture and both are more damaging than cold. Put your vents up high, near the roof since warm moist air rises and can then escape. It's good to have vents on opposite ends. Vents can be as simple as several drilled holes or you can actually cut out a square and buy the vent covers like those used on houses. If you plan to get more chickens, plan the venting according to how many birds your coop can house comfortably. I always recommend opening their door daily, not only does it let in fresh air and natural light, it helps circulate and get rid of the moisture and they have the choice to go out if they want to. I will only leave their coop door closed on days below -25 or if it is storming/excessively windy. If you are concerned about frost bite on hens with larger combs/wattles, you can put bag balm, heavy hand lotion or vaseline on very lightly and that will help prevent moisture loss. Hope that helps

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

That is exactly what I am trying to avoid is stressing about my windows. I stressed all summer long and drove my family crazy running back and forth. I need to start sleeping with ease as all I've been doing is worrying about my 4 chickens. The weather changes so quickly here (Canada ) and I am at work lots so I want to make sure they are ok in case heavy winds come and I'm not there or it's in the middle of the night. I know we need more ventilation as I don't like to have the two big windows open at night. We will add some vents up top that will stay open. Our neighbors have had chickens for years and think I am crazy with all the worrying I do. They have no heat no insulation an open door and many cracks and they all do fine even when we are at -20 C. So if anyone has a way to tell me how I can make this more stress free please do tell.

Relax. Shut the window at night when you lock the hens in. Open it in the morning when you let them out, unless you're going to have a soaking rain that will get into the coop, or it's -20 outside. That's pretty much it.

I change which windows I have open with the wind direction, but my coop has six house-sized windows on three sides of the coop. It's a different situation.

 

[RavenWood]

Canada! No heat; No light; No insulation; No problems.
Know your birds; Do what you will.
Simple advise: Simple problem.

And where in Canada are you? Weather/temps in Vancouver or on the east coast are hugely different from where I live! Weather in Saskatchewan is cold and dry ... -25 there doesn't feel nearly as cold as -25 where I live because we have more moisture and as we know, moisture in the air is responsible for a lot more issues than dry air is! Just sayin!

That is exactly what I am trying to avoid is stressing about my windows. I stressed all summer long and drove my family crazy running back and forth. I need to start sleeping with ease as all I've been doing is worrying about my 4 chickens. The weather changes so quickly here (Canada ) and I am at work lots so I want to make sure they are ok in case heavy winds come and I'm not there or it's in the middle of the night. I know we need more ventilation as I don't like to have the two big windows open at night. We will add some vents up top that will stay open. Our neighbors have had chickens for years and think I am crazy with all the worrying I do. They have no heat no insulation an open door and many cracks and they all do fine even when we are at -20 C. So if anyone has a way to tell me how I can make this more stress free please do tell.

You are a good, conscientious chicken owner! Nothing wrong with wanting to do well by your birds! As Walking on Sunshine says below - close 'em at night, open 'em during the day!

Relax. Shut the window at night when you lock the hens in. Open it in the morning when you let them out, unless you're going to have a soaking rain that will get into the coop, or it's -20 outside. That's pretty much it. I change which windows I have open with the wind direction, but my coop has six house-sized windows on three sides of the coop. It's a different situation.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Well Raven wood I live in Moncton NB to be exact. The most important word is ACCLIMATIZE your birds. Today we had -25 C with a wind chill of -37C.




The humidity today was 60%. It was so cold apparently my son was telling me some engine blocks in cars have cracked due to the difference in temperature on the inside of the engine and the outside ambient air after taking them out for a drive in this bitter cold.

I have 63 trips around the sun I have had birds for decades feed extra corn and fresh warm water in these conditions.

I have since moved my chickens into this coop a few days ago it is insulated with 2 inch Styrofoam however the temperature inside this coop was the same as the outside ambient temperature.

I also got 3 eggs from 6 Golden Comet (sex link) chickens that are well past their prime.

No heat; No light; No problems.
Know your birds; Know your coop;
Do what you will.
Simple advise: Simple problem.

 

[Ravencoop]

Hi there! I haven't read all the pages on this thread so don't want to copy all the good info as always but would like to share this story! I live in cold country Ontario and as a first time winter chicken stewart i too was concerned about the Gals in cold weather. I've learned that our new reality of extreme temperature swings is more of an issue than consistent cold climes. Warming trends cause havoc in the coop in the form of moisture and creates more work cleaning out damp bedding before extreme cold swings. I've learned my Chickens (Red & Black Sexlinks) are very hardy in the cold! The other day it warmed up to 10 C and was a good opportunity for them to get out for a walk and a dust bath in their favourite location in the sand and sun. At the end of the day when shutting them in the coop I was down 1 bird!! After an exhausting and puzzling search she was no where to be found. That night it dropped to -27 C. I did a another seach the next day in case but feared the enevitable. The next night was -20 something. Two days later in the AM while out on the back deck I heard pecking. Thinking it was a woodpecker on the siding of the house I stormed to the end of the deck and looked over the edge to find an egg in the sand beside and upside rain barrel. I felt instantly warmed knowing she's still around! She sand bathed her way up underneath the rain barrel and spent two very cool nights on her own wiithout a roost or her fellow coop mates to stay warm. She was removed in a relatively happy state albeit a little thirsty but returned to the group without any kind of stress and continued producing eggs! We had - 37 C the other night and the flock is doing just fine in a coop with approx R 8 insulation value and a 150 watt heat lamp on just during the wee hours of the morning. I don't believe they even need the lamp however I would like to give them a little warmth!
Thanks to BYC for all the good info to make my coop a success!!
RC

 

[nikchic]

Relax. Shut the window at night when you lock the hens in. Open it in the morning when you let them out, unless you're going to have a soaking rain that will get into the coop, or it's -20 outside. That's pretty much it.

I change which windows I have open with the wind direction, but my coop has six house-sized windows on three sides of the coop. It's a different situation.

 

[nikchic]

I thought the whole idea was to have the vents open all night as that is when they are in there generating heat and moisture. If we put vents at the top of the coop wouldn't those remain open 24/7? Sorry for the confusion.