Need Colorado Winter Coop Advice for Two Hens

[RachaelsChickens]

Hello everyone,

I have had my girls since March, they are amazing egg layers and so healthy. They love to be outside and we had a coop that ended up not being great for Colorado fall or winter weather. It's so thin and water leaks into the nesting boxes and into the larger enclosed portion, not the run (I don't know what that section is called).
I have an outdoor thermometer in the coop and on the first cold night, while they were in there, the coop got down to 9 degrees, I freaked out because I was monitoring their behavior and when they began to make extremely loud noises at 11pm I put them in the garage inside of an old extra large dog kennel with pine shavings and straw.
I don't mind building on or adding additions, but I don't know where to start.

This is what the coop looks like.

Thank you so much for any advice!
- Rachael

 

[Ratchnick]

You need to stop the leaks, you might need to get help from someone. Make sure they have good vents at the top to let moisture out. 1sqft per bird or so. If you have a breed that is not cold hardy then an infrared heat panel will keep them warm but many breeds will be fine with a dry and draft free coop.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens how many did you put in the coop please
chickens require 4 square feet per bird, please let us know what part of the world you live on also

 

[Ratchnick]

OP said she lives in Colorado

 

[sunrise.superman]

My secondary coop is smaller and not super robust, but no leaking and mine do well even in close to or below zero Colorado weather (north Front Range - Fort Collins). I'm building a new coop to house everyone together but ventilated and dry are the most important things.

Can you caulk any openings or reinforce the roof? Do you know where the leaks are originating?

 

[2hotchicks]

Hello everyone,

I have had my girls since March, they are amazing egg layers and so healthy. They love to be outside and we had a coop that ended up not being great for Colorado fall or winter weather. It's so thin and water leaks into the nesting boxes and into the larger enclosed portion, not the run (I don't know what that section is called).
I have an outdoor thermometer in the coop and on the first cold night, while they were in there, the coop got down to 9 degrees, I freaked out because I was monitoring their behavior and when they began to make extremely loud noises at 11pm I put them in the garage inside of an old extra large dog kennel with pine shavings and straw.
I don't mind building on or adding additions, but I don't know where to start.

This is what the coop looks like.

Thank you so much for any advice!
- Rachael

I also have only 2 pullets & a somewhat similar coop. I sealed the exterior of the coop with spar urethane. I added weatherstripping around the door, roofline and nest box opening. I stapled insulation (reflective insulation, purchased at Lowe's) on the inside walls of coop. The girls don't bother the insulation but I installed it prior to their arrival so it's not new to them. I placed a couple layers of cardboard under the litter to help prevent upward drafts. Lastly, I added a Sweeter Heater. I know many disagree with adding heat, but with the thin prefab walls & only 2 bodies generating heat in the coop, I feel it is needed. My girls are pets so I'm looking for more than just them surviving the winter.

 

[RachaelsChickens]

You need to stop the leaks, you might need to get help from someone. Make sure they have good vents at the top to let moisture out. 1sqft per bird or so. If you have a breed that is not cold hardy then an infrared heat panel will keep them warm but many breeds will be fine with a dry and draft free coop.

Thank you, I have only 2 hens and it's a coop with a double nesting box and about 4 sqft extra in the enclosed portion where the roost is.

I believe they are Rhode Island Reds. The person we got them from was unsure when they were only 1 week & 2 weeks old. What infrared heat panels have you tried, if you have? I just am so unsure with running electricity that far outside. They are towards the end of my yard, about 60 yards from an outlet in the garage and my patio outlet is about 30 yards.

 

[RachaelsChickens]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens how many did you put in the coop please
chickens require 4 square feet per bird, please let us know what part of the world you live on also

Thank you for your reply!

I live in Colorado and have 2 hens. The coop said 6 chickens, but I find that ridiculously crowded. My girls have enough room for the two of them to sleep, but I want to expand their run and insulate the roost in the most efficient way.

 

[RachaelsChickens]

My secondary coop is smaller and not super robust, but no leaking and mine do well even in close to or below zero Colorado weather (north Front Range - Fort Collins). I'm building a new coop to house everyone together but ventilated and dry are the most important things.

Can you caulk any openings or reinforce the roof? Do you know where the leaks are originating?

So if your secondary coop is like my primary, what does your primary coop look like?
And how many chickens do you have together, a few farmers have told me that if I had 4 or more then it's so much easier for them to stay warm since they can all put off body heat to raise the inside temperature.

I live about 20 miles east of Fort Collins. So we have similar weather conditions. I am in a neighborhood and they have rules on structures in your backyard, so I have to keep it looking well put together. How would you suggest reinforcing the roof? The leaks are coming from where the openings are. If I caulk the nesting box and the roof, I can't open it to clean anymore.

Thank you!

 

[sunrise.superman]

So if your secondary coop is like my primary, what does your primary coop look like?
And how many chickens do you have together, a few farmers have told me that if I had 4 or more then it's so much easier for them to stay warm since they can all put off body heat to raise the inside temperature.

I live about 20 miles east of Fort Collins. So we have similar weather conditions. I am in a neighborhood and they have rules on structures in your backyard, so I have to keep it looking well put together. How would you suggest reinforcing the roof? The leaks are coming from where the openings are. If I caulk the nesting box and the roof, I can't open it to clean anymore.

Thank you!

My primary coop I'm finishing will house all 15 hens...4x11 and I'm in a neighborhood where we don't have HOA, etc. I bought what will stay my secondary coop for brooding babies, it was home built by the guy I bought it from...he somehow had 6 big (Jersey Giants and Buff Orps) hens in there (bought them too), but that's all they'd ever known so it worked. Similar in style to the Tractor Supply type coops.

Can you post a pic of your problems areas? Perhaps weather stripping or a rubber flange added to keep water dripping OUT instead of in?

My ladies really only do the intense cuddle when it's quite cold...10 or below. Otherwise they all spread out in their favorite spots.