It's 13 degrees outside...And I am worried

[hayley3]

Hi @hayley3

Yes...we got it through Tractor Supply although I just checked TSC website and my exact set up is not listed currently. Another option is this one from the same company...

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-defender-chicken-coop

There were some adjustments we had to do to make it complete but everyone makes alterations/adjustments to their coops & runs based upon conditions, etc.

With our purchase, we received direct home delivery, free of charge, and dear hubby & I put it all together in about 4-5 hours. Let me know if you have any questions about the product/set-up and I will try to help!

Thanks...I really need a chicken run. They will have a coop but they need someplace for when I need to run errands and I really like yours.

 

[bruceha2000]

Not to mention the advice she is giving is seriously flawed.

Like the lady who tells people that chickens will lay every day if you give them whole oats, cracked corn and bread. Also that poop on an egg means the hen has worms.

And the problem is that people who have never raised chickens are "open books". A little bad info can have bad results.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

View attachment 1986807 Here is a picture of the same run with the panels we made as covers.View attachment 1986807

That's pretty awesome! I'm now officially jealous, and my birds are not speaking to me!

 

[Rothy_058]

Hey, Manhen - You really do need to specify degrees C or F... Here the default is degrees Centigrade....Just ask anyone in the UK!!

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Then check out her video on insulating the coop. This lady has no business giving advice on chicken keeping.

1. That "prefab" coop is FAR too small for her 4 large fowl. Like many, she paid far too much for far too little. Could have built a bigger, better coop for that amount of money.
2. Those 4 hens are going to produce a fair bit of humidity which is the second reason the coop is far too small.
3. The 2 holes on the one end of the coop don't provide nearly enough ventilation

It is a wonder the rest of her hens don't have frostbite as well.


Seems like you've got it pretty well covered. You don't want it air tight and a bit of snow blowing in from well above the level of the chickens on the ground in the run is fine.

Yeah, who is this with all the video advice? Don't believe it just because someone made a video!

My chickens love the snow that blows in. They like to eat snow more than they like horizontal nipples (water of last resort!). They are birds! Look outside at the tiny chickadees, noisy blue jays, wrens, and juncos! Nobody built them a weather proof coop, and they are fine all winter.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Those round roof poly shelters though cheap and handy, will not shed snow very well. Peaked roof shelters are better at shedding snow (and more expensive), but in either case, getting a "roof rake" shovel really helps. Yes, one has to clear the snow or there will be a collapse, eventually.

My roof rake would tear that plastic up with the first use. Try a broom; especially a push broom.

 

[Manhen]

Hey, Manhen - You really do need to specify degrees C or F... Here the default is degrees Centigrade....Just ask anyone in the UK!!

Huff,,,,weellll,,,you see...as an American it is considered acceptable to assume the rest of all y'all know, y'know?

EDIT:

 

[Manhen]

Hi @hayley3

Yes...we got it through Tractor Supply although I just checked TSC website and my exact set up is not listed currently. Another option is this one from the same company...

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-defender-chicken-coop

There were some adjustments we had to do to make it complete but everyone makes alterations/adjustments to their coops & runs based upon conditions, etc.

With our purchase, we received direct home delivery, free of charge, and dear hubby & I put it all together in about 4-5 hours. Let me know if you have any questions about the product/set-up and I will try to help!

I think your setup is advertised to the right side on the above linke?

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Wow ! It went from 30 degrees F to 7 degrees F

I was worried too. Noticed they did okay I did shut the coop door.

I did heat for a little bit but honestly I think it is better if they can acclimate.

just like my dog is getting a undercoat and getting fluffy the chickens seem to be doing the same.
I will say I don’t let them free range when it is bitterly cold.

I did wrap run in plastic so solar rays warm it up and block most of the wind.

good luck with your hens!

this is my first time as well! No eggs yet

 

[Chullicken]

Once again its that time of year, frigid and snowy. Seems like you're off to a good start. Adult poultry should do very well if they've gone through a full molt (Mine like to molt late so they tend to suffer for a few weeks), have adequate windbreaks and a place where they will be able to get out of the wind chill such as a coop. Moisture is a big thing when it comes to cold-weather injuries and ailments so ensure they're cleaned out regularly. High protein diet and access to food sources around the clock will keep the little furnaces at full production when needed. As the day's progress and little bodies start acclimating to the change in weather, they'll be just fine.