My First Winter with Chickens

[J99]

I also have ducks which is a concern

 

[BReeder!]

Hi!

I'm in the same situation as you! Well, sort of.

One of the things I'm planning on doing when winter sets in is keeping one of my waterers in the coop. (The smaller one, of course.) Because, sometimes its a really cold day and there is deep snow. Your chickens don't really feel like going outside. They will still need fresh food and water. So I think I'll put it on a cinder block in the corner of the coop and set the waterer on it.

I'm not planning on buying a heated water bowl, etc. I want to wrap foam or something around the waterer out in the run so it does not freeze. I'm not exactly sure yet...

Larger waterers are less likely to freeze solid. A heated waterer is a good investment though. We have a heated 3 gallon hanging waterer with poultry nipples. It doesn't use a lot of power, and it keeps the water from freezing. I bought it at Farm & Fleet for $30 I think, but you can find them cheaper online.

 

[Alaskan]

I also have ducks which is a concern

I can't imagine Kentucky getting cold enough to worry ... especially with ducks, they are very hardy.

I do not wrap anything... coops or runs.

It IS nice to block blasting arctic wind, so I have a plastic panel up on the fence in my duck yard to block wind. (So just a bit of the south fence,has plastic on it).

My chicken coops are situated with a bit more natural protection from the wind, but I was thinking of finally, after all of these years, putting up one or 2 plastic panels on the run fence for my big chicken coop.

LOTS of ventilation is important in regards to reducing frost risk. Fresh air keeps poultry healthy.

 

[Folly's place]

I agree. 'Cold' and 'Kentucky' are concepts that just don't mesh somehow.
Mary

 

[J99]

Hahahha Indiana ( where I’ve always lived and Kentucky get really cold lol but not on an average or mean . But sporadic days each year are 10 or below wind chill way below 0
Ok do I need to stack up hay on the inside? Or put tons of bedding down? I’ve been wanting to try that white sand someone mentioned for my floors but that’s probably not great to keep warm in

 

[Folly's place]

Newer chicken owners, with few birds, a dry climate, and who are happy to scoop poop daily, seem to like sand. until it gets smelly, anyway.
Damp places, freezing weather, and time, and it will be a mess. Then shoveling it out will be a miserable project, as it's really heavy. Also not compost or mulch, or any thing useful.
I like deep bedding with shavings and plant materials instead; that's just me.
Mary

 

[J99]

Ohh ok see ? I didn’t think of that or know about it actually
So it’s ok to just put pine shavings every where? And maybe hay in the hen boxes or duck sleeping area?

 

[BReeder!]

Ohh ok see ? I didn’t think of that or know about it actually
So it’s ok to just put pine shavings every where? And maybe hay in the hen boxes or duck sleeping area?

Everywhere protected from rain and snow, yes.
But in the run where things can get wet, avoid wood shavings. Straw is ok as it will drain pretty well and is not likely to get matted. I just have dirt mostly. I pile leaves in the fall too and let the birds stir them abs then pull the leaf mold/compost out in the spring to use in the garden as an amendment. The leaves do get matted a bit though.

 

[Folly's place]

Leaves are mulch too, and plain dirt will likely be worse. Good drainage and something besides mud works well. I did use shavings and stuff when my run wasn't roofed, as a better option. Roofing is definitely nicer!
Mary

 

[Alaskan]

Hahahha Indiana ( where I’ve always lived and Kentucky get really cold lol but not on an average or mean . But sporadic days each year are 10 or below wind chill way below 0
Ok do I need to stack up hay on the inside? Or put tons of bedding down? I’ve been wanting to try that white sand someone mentioned for my floors but that’s probably not great to keep warm in

No, you don't have to stack hay, or use lots of bedding.

Hay bales (if inexpensive)can be used as a wind break... but do you get a bunch of wind?

A sheet of plywood also works as a wind break, or an old fogged window.

As to bedding.... if you only dip into 10F on occasion, I would guess that the poop never freezes into concrete... so you can do whatever you want for bedding...

I like wood shavings since they can still be fluffed even if a few poop concrete bits are in there. When it gets to solid concrete (which is likely at my temps and with ducks) then I just keep tossing on a fresh thin layer of shavings as needed.

If I get a day that hits 20F the poo is usually soft enough to do a quick shovel out of the duck area.

With chickens and poop shelves the bedding stays pretty clean in the chicken coop and cleanup of the floor can wait until spring.