Is a tall coop bad in winter?

[tomato lady]

My remodel is a good sized building. After I take down the wall dividing the two sections it will be 12 x 18 (outside measurement). It is also very tall. The shed roof is 9 ft. on one side and 11 ft. on the other side. It is going to be great for summer -- lots of ventelation and air movement.

I am worried about the winter. Is it going to be too tall for the cold weather? Should I lower the cieling before winter comes?
There will be between 30 and 40 chickens in the coop. Maximum capacity is ablut 50 chickens but I don't want that many up there.

I live Southeast of Seattle and we get lots of rain, some snow, and cold down to about 10 f. in the very coldest winter. Usually it does not get much colder than 20. We do have a lot of days when it gets below freezing.

 

[digitS']

On all but a very few weeks out of the year, I bet you are going to be happy with the height for that coop size and number of birds. During those weeks, just make sure they aren't freezing in the dark too many hours each night and give them an extra can full of scratch before they head for the roost.

I don't have anywhere near that much room (nor, anywhere near that many chickens

). I've considered lowering the ceiling during the winter. It would help the birds stay warm.

However, subzero temperatures can be expected here during the winter. I suspect that if your coop is tight enough, interior temperatures may not even drop to freezing some winters. The chickens shouldn't have any problem as long as they have plenty to eat.

Steve

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

I would either lower the ceiling or raise the roosts. The heat will rise so the birds are better off higher up.

 

[tomato lady]

My highest roost is at 5 ft. now. I am afraid to go much higher because I have a cement floor and I am afraid of injury. That roost is the top of the half wall that runs 7 feet part way across one end. It was already there so I figured they would roos there if I wanted them to or not, so I incorporated it into my roost system.

I have some Brahmas and Jersey Giants.

 

[LynneP]

You could bed them deeper in winter, but hens do well in cold weather- it's the heat that gives them grief. We're in the middle of a prolonged heat wave, making numerous trips to the barn and offering a wading area and cold well water 3 times a day. We hae the most savage winter in 22 years in 2008-2009 and our ceiling in the coop is 8', hens were great!

 

[2468Chickensrgr8]

They should be fine .. I have a tall coop because I am tall..In my coop I have a winter side and a summer side ...ones a room thats insulated three walls and has ventaltion ...in the winter I raise the roosts add a ladder roost for them to jump on up and down I also start doing the deep litter method come fall and feed them scratch before bed ......In Jan and Feb. up here is when we get the odd couple of days that it gets crazy cold here and that is when I may put a heat light on them ..on a timer only at night .....depends on what the temperature is inside the coop....I dont want them to have a heat light only to stay warm during the winter because if the power goes off for a couple days ....what would they do ...it would be like going from winter in Alaska to winter in Florida in a couple hours... ha ha ha !!! Edit to say I ment the other way around ....Hot sunny Florida to toe numbing Alaska winter weather ...

 

[jimnjay]

You can use a false ceiling for the winter. I use a tarp attached to a frame I made in my one building. It works fine. I attache it with L brackets and just lay it over the brackets. I have it at 6 feet. It just slows the heat escaping a bit but it helps with the drafts too.

 

[kipper]

I know Eatonville weather (I work out that way) and I think your chickens will be fine. If you are worried, use deep litter and provide a heat lamp if it's getting into the teens at night. But even without those Two things, your chickens will cuddle up and stay warm. Frostbite isn't an issue in Western WA, so that's good. Just keep their water from freezing and prevent drafts.

 

[WalkingWolf]

With a coop that large you could build a warm box in the coop. Build it up high with a door that can be closed in the day time so they will not lay eggs in it, and can be closed off in the summer. Layer the bottom with straw so they retain their own heat on cold nights. Make sure the box has enough ventilation for your birds.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Quote:
Oh I know! ... It's baking ALL THE TIME. The chickens have even ventured into the duck pen to take a little break in their wading pool. We've been putting out cold water melon and frozen jugs of water all week.