Keeping the coop warm in the winter, HOW?

[Kassafrass]

Your cracks will definitely provide ventilation. However they may also provide a draft. Remember that the ventilation needs to be up higher than the roosts so that humidity can get out as it rises with the warmth of the birds bodies. Anything else probably will create a draft and you will want to either fill those cracks or cover the outside with a plastic tarp during the colder months. As for warmth in the winter time it depends a lot on how many birds you have. The will generate a lot of body heat and will huddle together to keep warm if needed. The use of supplemental heat is a matter for debate. I do not make use of it and our winters often have several days running in the high teens to low twenties. I have 22 hens and one rooster in a coop measuring about 10 x 15. There is a narrow window up high for ventilation and it is open almost all the time year round. It is under an awning so that I don't have to be concerned about rain getting in. Then there is a large opening on another side that is also open most of the year. During the winter months I cover it with a clear plastic tarp (loosely so that there is still circulation) to keep out wind and draft since it is about roost level. My coop is metal set in (not on) a concrete slab. I use shavings for bedding and during the winter I mix shavings and straw about 6 inches thick and so far the girls seem to do o.k.

Good luck with your new coop.

Jttn,
This was very helpful. If you dont mind a couple questions....our coop is a converted wooden playhouse. I will wrap in a tarp to helo with drafts, but do i need to do anything further, other than what was already mentioned (ventilation, etc). Also, if you are able, could you post a pic of your vents with the plastic to give an idea of how to do it?

 

[jtn42248]

Jttn,
This was very helpful. If you dont mind a couple questions....our coop is a converted wooden playhouse. I will wrap in a tarp to helo with drafts, but do i need to do anything further, other than what was already mentioned (ventilation, etc). Also, if you are able, could you post a pic of your vents with the plastic to give an idea of how to do it?

I have not put up my tarp yet for this season but basically I have a plastic tarp cut a few inches larger than the opening. I just Duct tape it over the opening on the top and two sides leaving the bottom untaped to allow for air without draft. I use a clear/opaque plastic painters tarp that I got at the hardware store for less than 10 bucks.

 

[Indoroowet]

For the run you should have about 10 sq ft per bird for standard sized birds.

Thank you jtn4228 !

I have corrected the *rules* .

 

[Indoroowet]

I do have, in the top of the coop six *2 inch diameter* vent holes,
three on each opposite side of the coop.

Since I have been told that ventilation is more important than anything else, I have increased the opening size of the ventilation openings to 1 square foot per chicken.

 

[Kassafrass]

I have not put up my tarp yet for this season but basically I have a plastic tarp cut a few inches larger than the opening. I just Duct tape it over the opening on the top and two sides leaving the bottom untaped to allow for air without draft. I use a clear/opaque plastic painters tarp that I got at the hardware store for less than 10 bucks.

Thank you, jtn! So the flap over the opening kind of sticks up from the bottom? And is there a certain temp you would leave the coop closed all day (so they couldn't even go into the run) to conserve heat?

 

[jtn42248]

Thank you, jtn! So the flap over the opening kind of sticks up from the bottom? And is there a certain temp you would leave the coop closed all day (so they couldn't even go into the run) to conserve heat?

Yes to the tarp being loose enough to allow air in. No, I do not keep them closed in all day even to conserve heat. I allow them to make the decision to go and come even in cold weather. They are a lot smarter than we give them credit for and will take care of warming themselves. Their coop door is off to one side so they can go and come and still be inside the coop without being directly in front of their door. I do open the door later in the winter to allow the sun to warm thing a bit but other than the it is pretty much the same year round.

 

[yellowchicks]

My coop winterized to block the wind, rain and snow. Clear polycarbonate panels covered all sides of the run. However, there are 6" openings on the top edge along the front and the side, 2 ft opening along the back side of the run for ventilation, and 4" opening along the bottom of the coop. All double pane windows can be opened or closed accordingly. The front of the coop is opened daily to air out the coop.



Since the coop walls are insulated, it will warm up quickly when the chickens are inside.

 

[Kassafrass]

My coop winterized to block the wind, rain and snow. Clear polycarbonate panels covered all sides of the run. However, there are 6" openings on the top edge along the front and the side, 2 ft opening along the back side of the run for ventilation, and 4" opening along the bottom of the coop. All double pane windows can be opened or closed accordingly. The front of the coop is opened daily to air out the coop. Since the coop walls are insulated, it will warm up quickly when the chickens are inside.

Thanks...i hadnt thoufht if putting panels like that up for the run. It would definitely help block the wind and keep out precipitation. I think i will try that! Should help the coop stay a little warmer too.

Yes to the tarp being loose enough to allow air in. No, I do not keep them closed in all day even to conserve heat. I allow them to make the decision to go and come even in cold weather. They are a lot smarter than we give them credit for and will take care of warming themselves. Their coop door is off to one side so they can go and come and still be inside the coop without being directly in front of their door. I do open the door later in the winter to allow the sun to warm thing a bit but other than the it is pretty much the same year round.

Ok, thanks. I think what i have been struggling with is that our coop is so small, and is a converted playhouse. We inherited it and chickens with no notice. So it has single plywood walls, and both the coop and door entrance would make it cold in there (i woyld think...

 

[Kassafrass]

@jtn42248

Sorry, hit wrong button. Anyway, i think if i combine your ideas with those of @yellowchicks on the run, they might be ok. Our winter here was pretty bitter last year, and i hate to not be well enough prepared. Thanks again to you both!

 

[Indoroowet]

our coop is so small, and is a converted playhouse. So it has single plywood walls, and both the coop and door entrance would make it cold in there (i woyld think...

From almost any reliable commercial source or from posters here on this forum,
it shows that chickens can stand remarkably low temperatures.
Depending on the kind of chicken, some of them better than others.

As a measure of safety *for you, to keep your mind at ease ...*, you could get moving blankets,
and drape them over the coop during the night,
A couple of layers (layered is always best),
with a final layer of a plastic tarp over the blankets.
This will surely keep the cold out from the walls.

I have been told too many times that a heat lamp is more dangerous, than providing heat.

If you know the prevailing wind direction, than keep the door away from the wind !
They absolutely do NOT need a drafty coop, but do need a lot of ventilation !
One (1) square foot of opening, per chicken !
Moist relatively warm air, which the chickens generate, rises to the top of the coop
and thus the ventilation should be at that same area.
I have monitored the air temperature and humidity when I started out,
and noticed that the humidity was very high at night.
It reached levels of 80 some percent !
Since then, I have increased the area of ventilation,
and the humidity has lowered to levels of around 40%,
while the temperatures did not lower at all !
The temperature inside the coop was always about 15 - 25 degrees higher than the outside.
It has been getting colder at night here and the lowest we have had was 33 degrees.
Yet my weather monitor for the inside has shown a lowest temperature of just 45 degrees !


The same can be said for the *run* at the winter time, which should have very little wind,
but again lots of daylight and ventilation !
In summer, that run should be airy but should have shade to keep the chickens cool.
When the day temperatures reach three digit values, they will start having problems !

In the coop, they should have a perch that they can stand/sit/sleep on,
that is wider than the span of their feet.
They can hunker down and cover their feet with their body !
Mine are built from 1 x 4 pieces.

If you do not have any perches, then spread out a good six (6) inches thick
layer of straw over the floor of the coop.
They can hunker down together on the straw together to keep warm.

Last but not least, even in very cold weather,
the chickens need plenty of water to survive.
So make sure the water they have, during the day at least,
is NOT frozen !

I also have been told that during really cold spells,
you need to add some vaseline on their combs and wattles.
Not sure if this is a good thing or not, but I figure, it would not hurt ?

NOTE:
I have been at this (keeping chickens as pet livestock) for about a year now.
I did however spend months and months of reading up on what to do,
before I built a coop and bought the pullets!
So all of this is not much of personal experience,
but suggestions of many posters who have been *at it* for way longer than I have.