Moved the girls out to the coop- need help with temperature and heating...

[humblehillsfarm]

Thanks for the tough love all! They went into their coop on their own (they were waiting for me to put them in lol) AND I got rid of the heat!!! I think it was down in the 50's NBD. They burst out the door this morning when I opened it.
A note- I lost a 3 bird flock a few months ago due to a perfect storm when the temps dropped to 10 degrees and they locked themselves out (closed the small door) to the brooder coop heated area in their small hutch. One of my kids didn't close my sliding door all the way (like 1/2") and all 3 froze. It was really sad because they were 6 weeks old and full of personality. I got a lock for the brooder room door, a Bluetooth thermometer, and removed the brooder door. YOu live you learn, just wish I didn't have to learn that way. So, that's why I lose sleep over the temperature of the coop!!!
21 Hens- do your birds lay in the winter if you don't heat the coop?
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Oh my I am so sorry to hear about your little babies

I woke up yesterday and all of my birds were outside. I realized I had went out to count the birds and forgot to close their door. I was beating myself up because just the day prior I had seen a racoon. It's unreal how easy it is to make such a simple, but devastating mistake. We are only human! Thankfully, my birds survived that mistake. I am so, so sorry yours did not

 

[wamtazlady]

First year pullets will generally lay through the winter. At 18 months they go through a big molt and stop laying. That often happens at the beginning of the cold weather. After that the hens will stop laying for part of the winter if you do not use lights. Heat has nothing to do with laying. Number of hours of daylight does affect laying. Chickens lay best with 14 hours of daylight. Last time I had a flock of only pullets I averaged 9 eggs a day all winter from 12 pullets. The temperature went down to the -20s F.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thanks for the tough love all! They went into their coop on their own (they were waiting for me to put them in lol) AND I got rid of the heat!!! I think it was down in the 50's NBD. They burst out the door this morning when I opened it.
A note- I lost a 3 bird flock a few months ago due to a perfect storm when the temps dropped to 10 degrees and they locked themselves out (closed the small door) to the brooder coop heated area in their small hutch. One of my kids didn't close my sliding door all the way (like 1/2") and all 3 froze. It was really sad because they were 6 weeks old and full of personality. I got a lock for the brooder room door, a Bluetooth thermometer, and removed the brooder door. YOu live you learn, just wish I didn't have to learn that way. So, that's why I lose sleep over the temperature of the coop!!!
21 Hens- do your birds lay in the winter if you don't heat the coop?
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Some do some don't. I have a wide range of breeds and ages.
I agree it is not temps but hours of daylight.

I have 2 bantam cochins age 10 and 11 years old. They rarely lay even with long days lol.

I have 2 black sex links age 4 years. I'm hey lay all winter but at a reduced rate.
My 11 black Australorp are hit and miss but a few sill give me eggs in the winter. They are all over 3.
My one remaining Brahma is 7 so gets a pass for winter.
I do have 6 birds that are just now a year old. They did ok.
My others are older as well so I don't expect eggs from them in winter. They do give me a few even if it is not many.



Your coop is quite short and doesn't look like it has much if any ventilation. I think you will need modifications before winter hits.

 

[ErinLeah]

I totally agree- I think I need ventilation and some insulation especially under the metal roof! Where are you in No CO? Wondering if you are up in the hills. We are in Fort Collins. Do you think the coop needs to be taller? Like, fill in the wire part under the coop? The box is 3.5 x3.5 and then there are 3 nesting boxes.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I totally agree- I think I need ventilation and some insulation especially under the metal roof! Where are you in No CO? Wondering if you are up in the hills. We are in Fort Collins. Do you think the coop needs to be taller? Like, fill in the wire part under the coop? The box is 3.5 x3.5 and then there are 3 nesting boxes.

I am in Loveland.
I keep looking at the pics of your coop.
I think what I would do is.....
Take the whole roof off
Add 2x3 boards to all 4 corners of the coop and the 2 corners on the run making the front taller than the back and adding at least 2 feet in height.
Secure plywood or siding to the new added height and adding ventilation up high
Add plywood or OSB above at least the coop portion
Re-roof the structure. You would need new roofing as sloping it increases the distance and you will need support under the OSB as well. I would make a 6-12" overhang front and back as well.

That is the least expensive "fix" I can think of. It won't be the cutest but it would get you through.

The slope will help it shed water and snow. The roof decking will help keep it cooler in summer and stop condensation in winter.


Edited because typing before coffee should be prohibited for me. To many weird autocorrect things escape before coffee.

 

[ErinLeah]

It's hard to see in the pic but the roof slopes toward the fence and it is in two pieces with a gutter in the middle- one over the coop and one over the small run. My intuition was also to make it taller- but I also thought about two other options: 1. take the tray out and wall in the bottom part of the coop (underneath)- not sure if I would leave it open to the ground though...clay soil... 2. Make the coop longer by moving egg box and adding on another section that is 2x3'longer to the box, then maybe adding a 1-2' of height in the front as well. I should almost start over but I think it is 6's at this point. I do have a ton of scrap tongue and groove to make it look similar. I think it all needs insulation though. And yes- adding a vent! A must. At least I have some time since they are still small!
Thanks for the replies- your ideas are super helpful!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Insulation won't fix the venting issues.

To get venting that is not drafting on the birds at night you need height.
Open to the ground on clay is horrible.

By the by.....birds are insanely drawn to pecking at and eating insulation.

 

[Doc7]

Thanks for the tough love all! They went into their coop on their own (they were waiting for me to put them in lol) AND I got rid of the heat!!! I think it was down in the 50's NBD. They burst out the door this morning when I opened it.
A note- I lost a 3 bird flock a few months ago due to a perfect storm when the temps dropped to 10 degrees and they locked themselves out (closed the small door) to the brooder coop heated area in their small hutch. One of my kids didn't close my sliding door all the way (like 1/2") and all 3 froze. It was really sad because they were 6 weeks old and full of personality. I got a lock for the brooder room door, a Bluetooth thermometer, and removed the brooder door. YOu live you learn, just wish I didn't have to learn that way. So, that's why I lose sleep over the temperature of the coop!!!
21 Hens- do your birds lay in the winter if you don't heat the coop?
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when you say “they busted out the door when i opened it” are you referring to the Coop door or the run door to your yard?

If the coop door, with your hardware cloth setup, I would just leave it open 24-7-365, saves you a chore. Only needed for people who have chicken wire or no run roof, etc.

 

[ErinLeah]

Insulation won't fix the venting issues.

To get venting that is not drafting on the birds at night you need height.
Open to the ground on clay is horrible.

By the by.....birds are insanely drawn to pecking at and eating insulation.

Ok- so after the corona kitchen remodel I am finally ready to rehab the coop for winter! I am taking your advice 21hens and making the whole thing taller with the front being tallest sloping to the back. On the sides ( North and South) I will add triangular vents the go up to about 6” on the wider sides.
I was just re-reading your post and Had a question- about the plywood and OSB...so here’s my latest quandary- the coop is made of tongue and groove and I have a bunch of that left over from a house project. I am considering using that to extend the walls and then using half inch plywood for the roof with the metal on top. Also, I got an automatic chicken door this summer that opens and closes with the sun and right now I have that on the coop itself but I’m thinking about putting it on the outside run portion and putting a thick piece of rubber or floor mat on the pop door to keep big drafts down. That way I can keep their water and food out in the run area and create more room inside so they can fly up to their new perch that would be taller. I’m going to scrap the heater I got (hopefully sell it!) and get a water defroster. Do you think I should also be putting plywood as a second layer on the walls? A fan watching some YouTube videos of people in Michigan and Canada and they say it’s not really about keeping the chickens warm more about sheltering them from the wind etc. I took a picture of the inside this morning so you can get an idea of what I’m talking about. Eventually, I’m going to make the run longer as well but it’s been hard to get ahold of wide hardware cloth!! Thanks so much this is such great advice!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Ok- so after the corona kitchen remodel I am finally ready to rehab the coop for winter! I am taking your advice 21hens and making the whole thing taller with the front being tallest sloping to the back. On the sides ( North and South) I will add triangular vents the go up to about 6” on the wider sides.
I was just re-reading your post and Had a question- about the plywood and OSB...so here’s my latest quandary- the coop is made of tongue and groove and I have a bunch of that left over from a house project. I am considering using that to extend the walls and then using half inch plywood for the roof with the metal on top. Also, I got an automatic chicken door this summer that opens and closes with the sun and right now I have that on the coop itself but I’m thinking about putting it on the outside run portion and putting a thick piece of rubber or floor mat on the pop door to keep big drafts down. That way I can keep their water and food out in the run area and create more room inside so they can fly up to their new perch that would be taller. I’m going to scrap the heater I got (hopefully sell it!) and get a water defroster. Do you think I should also be putting plywood as a second layer on the walls? A fan watching some YouTube videos of people in Michigan and Canada and they say it’s not really about keeping the chickens warm more about sheltering them from the wind etc. I took a picture of the inside this morning so you can get an idea of what I’m talking about. Eventually, I’m going to make the run longer as well but it’s been hard to get ahold of wide hardware cloth!! Thanks so much this is such great advice!

The tongue in groove should be just fine. While air may seep in it won't whip in like an open window.
I would not use the rubber on the door. Birds like to see in before entering. The rubber would block that option and they won't realize they can go through.

I don't think you NEED to add a plywood layer to the walls but if you do......and it created empty wall cavities......mice and mites would love to hide there. If doing a plywood layer the siding should be flat against it and then you need Tyvek house wrap or such. Just not worth what little may be gained.