Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[chickflick]

Wynette, our moderator breeds Jersey Giants. She lives in Swartz Creek. Send her a pm if you are interested.

 

[1muttsfan]

Likely a member of the weasel family, they like to eat the heads

 

[zndzant]

As the nights are starting to cool off here in SE Mi, I'm starting to think about winter coming on and how I will take care of my chickens through the cold until spring. I have two 2x2 south facing windows on my coop as well as a pop door, which right now is covered with 1/4" hardware cloth and used for ventilation only.

Currently, the pop door on the west end is the one that is used for entry. I plan on switching that to the south facing door soon and closing up the west door opening for winter, to block out the prevailing winds, covering with hardware cloth on the inside for extra security.

The eaves are open along the whole 8' length of the coop both sides,all covered with 1/4' hardware cloth, and I have two 6"x18" covered vents in the gable ends(east and west ends) The vent covers are like the ones on cold air returns in your house.

With the windows facing south, away from prevailing winds and getting most of the daylight, do you think I will be able to keep them open, at least partially in all but the coldest weather? I want to make sure that there's adequate ventilation, but don't want drafts either.

I also plan on doubling the layer of wood shaving on the coop floor for added insulation, and covering the west end of the run with plastic to block the wind. Additionally, I want to cover the top of the south facing part of the run with a tarp too, to keep out snow as much as possible.

I'm probably worrying too much, but this is my first winter with chickens, and I don't want to do the wrong thing!

As for water, I will just have to carry out fresh several times a day as we couldn't run electric to the coop this summer, and the hydrant in the barn is broken.

Would love to hear what everyone does for the winters, and any additional advice on what I should do to keep my girls and boy healthy through the cold moths.

Wendy

 

[1muttsfan]

Cover the open eves, you will likely have drafts if you don't. Leave the covered end vents open, and open the south windows as needed to adjust ventilation. I have a south-facing window that stays at least cracked open all year round, and unless the wind is really bad the pop door stays open as well.

 

[zndzant]

Do you think that there will be drafts on the south side of the eaves? And the North side is heavily sheltered by the pine tree in the back. I do worry about that as the eaves are only slightly higher than the birds heads when they roost. The roosts are along the back edge of the coop. I should mention that the entire coop is 4x8.

You've given me something to think about, as I thought that the ventilation in the eaves was the best kind. Guess I'll have to rethink that for winter. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[aart]

@zndzant ......Not sure I'd cover the eaves, but you might need to baffle them inside to slow down any strong drafts and block any blown snow.
I throw up a few large pieces of cardboard to redirect air flow in winter to protect roost area.
Best way to find out about the strength and direction of strong drafts is to go out and stand in the coop during high winds.
Pics of inside of coop would help folks make suggestions.

I would advise caution with putting a tarp over run, plan on how to remove snow load.
Can't really see the framing and/or mesh on top of run.
Might consider a solid framed roof over south end, would hold up better with snow and provide shade in summer.

 

[taprock]

Do you think that there will be drafts on the south side of the eaves? And the North side is heavily sheltered by the pine tree in the back. I do worry about that as the eaves are only slightly higher than the birds heads when they roost. The roosts are along the back edge of the coop. I should mention that  the entire coop is 4x8.

You've given me something to think about, as I thought that the ventilation in the eaves was the best kind. Guess I'll have to rethink that for winter. Thanks for the suggestion.

I'll share a couple things I've learned. I have open eaves as well. Once the first snow falls I fill the eaves loosely with old sheets. That way there is no drafts, keeps snow out but air can still circulate. I bought old used ones and just wash in the spring and reuse each year. I do have a larger coop so they are farther away roosting except for a couple who sneak into the eaves to roost.

Don't plan on which way the wind will come from. I planned for west winds which is the predominate direction we get. However every major blizzard has had eastly winds. The first year that meant I had two foot drifts in my coop and I had a major clean out to do .

I water twice a day in winter. I do have one heated dog dish but I also have rubber dishes I bang out and fill. They can usually keep an ice hole open a good part of the day unless it is below zero.

Don't do the tarp, one big snow fall and it's down -hopefully with no chickens under it. I shovel daily and then throw down scratch and they are all out after it. I use hay also for the Guineas. Anything on the snow makes it more likely for them to be out. I actually got a few bales of hay before winter and blocked them up for a wind break and then used them through the winter. I have 4x4' pieces of plywood I lean against the coop over the pop doors so they can be open and direct wind doesn't blow in.

I start with about 4-6 inches of pine shavings and just keep adding all winter. Scoop out the really bad spots or wet and turn and add a new layer on top. Mine is usually great until spring thaw and they start tracking in mud.

Good luck! I hate winter!

 

[zndzant]

Here are pictures of the coop so you can get a better idea of what I'm working with.

2x4's are attached to coop with joist hangers screwed in to interior framing of the coop. Hardware cloth top is attached with screws and fender washers about every 6".

This is what the eaves look like.

And here is the back of the coop. You can see the roosts,(they all squish together and use the one on the west end)and the nest boxes with are on the east end. Don't mind the mess! I need to clean but today is Homecoming and I have to take pictures of my nephew and his date.

I like the idea of the cardboard baffles. Would I just tack it to the rafters inside?

 

[1muttsfan]

That's what I would do.

You would have an easier time cleaning snow off the top of the run if there was a peak. The hardware cloth will sag, and a heavy snow load may be enough to damage it, or even cause it to fail.

Nice coop.

 

[aart]

Here are pictures of the coop so you can get a better idea of what I'm working with.
2x4's are attached to coop with joist hangers screwed in to interior framing of the coop. Hardware cloth top is attached with screws and fender washers about every 6".

And here is the back of the coop. You can see the roosts,(they all squish together and use the one on the west end)and the nest boxes with are on the east end. Don't mind the mess! I need to clean but today is Homecoming and I have to take pictures of my nephew and his date.



I like the idea of the cardboard baffles. Would I just tack it to the rafters inside?

Yep..18-24" all the way across, maybe even on both sides of coop. Will direct any airflow between rafters and up higher...easy peasy.
I use dry wall screws and washers (or bottle cap 'washers')...don't need a ton of them.

That's some pretty sturdy run roof framing, shame it doesn't have some slope to it for rain/melt to run off....
.......add some cross bracing between 'rafters' there and it should hold up a tarp OK.
You'll still want to keep the accumulated snow off of it using a roof rake.
Might be good to shove a couple 2x4's between ground and run roof framing for extra support.
I do that on my mesh run roof if we're going to get heavy over night snow, most snow goes thru the 2x4 mesh but if it starts to stick, all bets are off.