I'm worried about cold & wind.

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I just set up my 12 x 12 horse stall to put my pullets in. It's mostly covered except the 1/3 of the south side that doesn't get the weather. When it blows here it blows hard. We've clocked winds at 120+ mph. I have buttoned down the stall (bolted onto a concrete footing, roofing tight, etc..) we've had the stall quite a few years so we know it will stand. What concerns me is how drafty it will be. No matter how hard we try the wind is going to get through. I put one of those plastic doghouses and bedded it down really good. There is no electrical source. The pullets I bought are 8 weeks old. There may be one or two younger but they all huddle together. It was 31 degrees last night, plus the wind blowing. I have them in the garage for now. Am I worrying too much???? I eventually want to convert a big wooden dog house into a little coop to put inside the coop so that they can really get away from the weather if they want to.
I'm in the mountains in San Diego. When can I put them out in their new coop? Thanks. I'm a very green newbie so patience is appreciated.

 

[Bantimna]

Well put up your coop on a day when it's sunny and not snowy.
Also make sure that your new coop will have insulation, put the new coop behind or infront of a buildling that would help block wind.

 

[patandchickens]

Is there a reason you can't just wrap canvas or suchlike around the outside, to draftproof it? That would seem to be the most logical solution. Crisscross ropes all over it so it can't flap.

I would worry about birds at 31 F if there are lots of drafts in their shelter. They might be ok but they'd be a lot more assured of being ok without the drafts.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[LynneP]

They're awfully young for that. Oh my...you are not out of line to worry.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Quote:
Thanks for the insight...I set it up when it was sunny, this is so. cal mtns....one day it's 80 and gorgeous outside then a storm rolls in and it's 31 out...but hey, thanks.

 

[ducks4you]

You are NOT alone! I didn't get my coop done last year, soooooo....the RIR's have been in my 12 x 16 horse stall since November. I keep telling them about the snow and ice--but they don't believe me!!

It's a wonderful option to use if you have it. Here are some photos:
Chicken Stall photos;

This is a view from the adjoining stall. (It has a horse in it--not different chickens.) We put in a wall of chicken wire to keep critters out.

Note at the top you'll see the closed barn door with straw bales to keep out any drafts. This faces east.

The rabbit hutch is there to, a) keep the chicken wire wall secured and b) didn't have anywhere else to put it!
I keep a 110 watt light clamped onto the rabbit hutch. It's on during the day, and they're laying!! For safety I have the wire high and it's plugged into a power strip, so I can break the circuit without damaging the cord.
My barn has cement flooring, so I lined the floor with 1/2", 4 x 6 button cattle mats, then I covered with diatomaceous earth, then 3-4 inches of pine shavings. I give them leftover lettuce and other vegetables and stale bread, and sometimes several pounds of oats--I do have horses, after all!--so that they'll dig at the bedding. So far, I can only smell my gelding's stall. The south wall is steel with nail-sized holes. There is plenty of ventilation, but no draft. They are happy as little clams in there.

I'm thinking of keeping this as is even after I get the coop built to raise up some Cornish Crosses for meat--I think you slaughter at 16 weeks. After that, I only need to take down the chicken wire, and it's ready for a horse to use again.

BTW, that ladder? I took a wobbly ladder, cleaned it up, put 3 coats of exterior white on it, put window sealer on every screw that stuck out, covered the steps with old horse shipping boots. The birds won't even try to use it.

Ungrateful wretches!!!

WHY did I bother!!

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Quote:
Mine is a free standing box stall....not in a barn. Better than some coops I've seen lately as I've been checking out as many as I can. I decided to go ahead and build a coop...DH wants to use the box stall for storing firewood.
Your chickens have it good with all that space. Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed them!

 

[NonnasBabies]

At that age I wouldn't put them out there!! But if that's the lowest your temp gets I wouldn't worry about them when they get older. I have a 3 sided open faced coop and during the winter I staple tarps up. They aren't quite long enough so there's about a 6 inch gap at the bottom. We've gotten temps down in the low 20's and they've done fine. "BUT" I also run an extension cord out there and have heat lamps for them!

Good luck with yours!
Missi