Minnesota Cold -- Help Our Hens!

[bluemusefarm]

This will be our hens' first winter in cold, snowy Minnesota. We selected winter-hardy breeds (3 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Leghorns, 4 Rhode Island Reds, 1 Speckled Sussex, 2 Americaunas, and 1 Barred Rock). They've got a well-constructed coop--with adequate ventilation and little or no drafts. But the recent string of colder weather is making me nervous about getting the girls through the winter comfortably.

Here in central MN, we'll likely see temperatures in the negative teens. Any tips for keeping a coop warmer without creating a fire hazard? How do all you other cold-weather survivors help your flock?

 

[StaceyChickFarm]

I'm no help but will be watching this post to get advise from others too! I live in Reno (it's no MN but it does get cold here and this is our first winter with chickens).

 

[bluemusefarm]

I found this on BYC (will definitely help you, StaceyChickFarm), but am still looking for unique ideas or opinions...

 

[NYREDS]

Here in upstate NY we get temps as low as -30 F. I don't have heat in my coops & have never lost a bird to the cold. They're a lot hardier than people think. Remember, they have down coats.

 

[bobbi-j]

Here in upstate NY we get temps as low as -30 F. I don't have heat in my coops & have never lost a bird to the cold. They're a lot hardier than people think. Remember, they have down coats.

x2. Bluemuse, I'm in western MN, and do not heat my coops. As long as they're well-ventilated and draft-free, they'll be in good shape. We put lots of straw down, and make sure they always have water available. I use a heated dog dish for my chickens in the winter. Some people put gallon ice-cream buckets in the dog dish for easier cleaning, I just put the water right in the dish. When it gets really, really cold (as in double-digits below zero) I keep the pop door shut since the coop is plenty big enough for them to be comfortable. Your chickens will be fine.

 

[Keggen]

I'm in MN, too! Hello gals! I just bought a heated based and metal double wall waterer to make sure the water doesn't freeze. I think I might put petroleum jelly on the combs of a few of my chickens, the ones with the large single comb at least. I laid down a lot more straw and closed up their windows. I also changed up their food a bit, from the regular stuff to adding chicken scratch and a scratch block thing. That's all so far. Not sure what else I will be doing. I have 25 chickens in a shed that was converted to a coop, so I hope their body heat will help.

 

[Barred Rock Caf]

x2. Bluemuse, I'm in western MN, and do not heat my coops. As long as they're well-ventilated and draft-free, they'll be in good shape. We put lots of straw down, and make sure they always have water available. I use a heated dog dish for my chickens in the winter. Some people put gallon ice-cream buckets in the dog dish for easier cleaning, I just put the water right in the dish. When it gets really, really cold (as in double-digits below zero) I keep the pop door shut since the coop is plenty big enough for them to be comfortable. Your chickens will be fine.

x4 to what Bluemuse and Bobbi-j recommend. I remind myself how ridiculous my grandparents would think it to try to heat a chicken coop here in North central Wisconsin! With that thought in mind, all I do are the basics- some winter ventilation so as to minimize humidity build up; plenty of bedding material for the birds to squat in should their "toesies" get cold; wide enough roost boards so that they can sit atop their feet completely; and calories for fuel to heat their internal furnaces; and lastly, but certainly not leastly, liquid water available at all times.

I also have Buff Orpingtons and Plymouth Rocks and other hardy breeds, so I can understand the concern about survivability. Remember, chickens are not new inventions and need basic accommodations to survive cold weather.

JMTCW,

Barred Rock Cafe

 

[what did I do]

Here in upstate NY we get temps as low as -30 F. I don't have heat in my coops & have never lost a bird to the cold. They're a lot hardier than people think. Remember, they have down coats.

X3

x2. Bluemuse, I'm in western MN, and do not heat my coops. As long as they're well-ventilated and draft-free, they'll be in good shape. We put lots of straw down, and make sure they always have water available. I use a heated dog dish for my chickens in the winter. Some people put gallon ice-cream buckets in the dog dish for easier cleaning, I just put the water right in the dish. When it gets really, really cold (as in double-digits below zero) I keep the pop door shut since the coop is plenty big enough for them to be comfortable. Your chickens will be fine. 

X2

I let my chickens out to free range when the weather is above 0 or nice and sunny. They are tough birds.