Need experienced input for first winter in this coop.

[Ahoragi]

First I'd like to thank everyone on this forum for being so helpful. There is a vast amount of information here and it's just a wonderful thing to have at our exposal. But like most of your setups, ours is a little different from the norm and we need some input from those with experience.

This is our first winter with our 16 chickens. Our coop is quite large (7x11), has three roost bars, and 6 nesting boxes. It also has 10 ventilation windows angled upwards following the pitch of the roof. All windows can be closed with the smaller 8 windows having a slight gap around them. The windows at the roosting bars is north and opposite windows are south. A good breeze gets going through them at times and we have a solar fan in one window to help push air out.

We live in what used to be a farmhand's home (SW PA). It's stationed in the middle of farm land so we are hit with heavy winds from three directions almost everyday in the cold months.

Our question is are the roosting bars too close to the north facing windows? If so, can we close those and leave the south facing windows open? Is that sufficient amount of ventilation? The coop's small door at ground level is almost always open. I am not sure if this could be helpful or not but the rigid foam ceiling comes off and it exposes the polycarbonate roofing panels that are vented under each ridge. The foam was really helpful in keeping the heat down this summer but not sure if we should leave it in place for winter too?

So far we have observed them all on the top two bars bundled up against the left wall with the power cord. Temps have been around the 40's at night.

Let us know what you folks think.

Thanks

 

[Ahoragi]

Our pooping machines:

 

[TooCheep]

Looks like you have a good setup. The primary rule is you don't want any cold winter winds to blow directly on your chickens. I can't quite tell scale, so that lowest window on the right behind the perch might be an issue, but if it is clearly over their head, then no problem. Also, you have a good overhang to prevent water/snow from getting in the windows.

Finally, you need to have cold-hardy chickens, but the ones in the picture all are fine. Looks like you don't have much to worry about. I am in a similar latitude and your chickens will be fine even into negative degree temps. Feathers are excellent insulation.

One other concern is water. Food won't be much of a problem, but freezing water definitely is. If you can run electricity to your coop, then heated waterers (I strongly prefer horizontal nipples) are a good solution.

Not a recommendation, just an example: https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovators-HB-60P-Poultry-Drinker/dp/B005BV1WLE

A couple of non-winter comments:
-Looks like you have a very good setup overall.
-The clutter in your run is an excellent addition. It gives them some things to do and places to hide from dominant hens.
-The only thing you *might* need is some type of shade for summer. Do you have an over hanging tree or other cover to help in the summer?

 

[Ahoragi]

Looks like you have a good setup. The primary rule is you don't want any cold winter winds to blow directly on your chickens. I can't quite tell scale, so that lowest window on the right behind the perch might be an issue, but if it is clearly over their head, then no problem. Also, you have a good overhang to prevent water/snow from getting in the windows.

Finally, you need to have cold-hardy chickens, but the ones in the picture all are fine. Looks like you don't have much to worry about. I am in a similar latitude and your chickens will be fine even into negative degree temps. Feathers are excellent insulation.

One other concern is water. Food won't be much of a problem, but freezing water definitely is. If you can run electricity to your coop, then heated waterers (I strongly prefer horizontal nipples) are a good solution.

Not a recommendation, just an example: https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovators-HB-60P-Poultry-Drinker/dp/B005BV1WLE

A couple of non-winter comments:
-Looks like you have a very good setup overall.
-The clutter in your run is an excellent addition. It gives them some things to do and places to hide from dominant hens.
-The only thing you *might* need is some type of shade for summer. Do you have an over hanging tree or other cover to help in the summer?

Thanks for the response. I've seen the chickens standing up as tall as they can trying to look out that window on the right but it's a good bit above their head when they are perched. We have racoons and possums that come out of the woods behind that right side wall (there is another side window next to that lowest closed window that is also closed). We keep those closed to minimize the noise but they seem to all bundle up on the left side anyways. Good to hear that they should be fine with those windows there. Do you have any thoughts on the foam ceiling? Leave it in? There is an additional 1.5 ft of space above the foam and more ventilation out of all the roofing panels. Not sure if that would make any difference taking them out.

This used to be a goat house that the previous owners used. The foam was put in during summer to cut down on the heat since, to answer your question, there is no trees or shade. Sun comes up from behind coop and hits it all day till sunset. But the coop has vent panels at ground level that open up all the way around the building and are secured with rigid wire fencing of some sort. We didn't use them much except on certain days of 95+ temps. I recently made the poop board to keep the ground clean and put in fresh pine shavings in preparation for winter as I think they will be huddled in there quite a bit. We are currently looking for vinyl or plastic to cover the secure run with to keep snow and wind out so they can venture out there when we get the 30 mph snow drift winds that comes off the field.

Thanks for the suggestion on heated waterer. We do have an outlet in the coop (left side of roost bar) and I think it's 220v. My wife scooped this up last night at TSC. We use similar waterers daily so this should work. It has a thermostat of some sort and turns on at 34 degrees if I am not mistaken.

 

[TooCheep]

I don't think there would be problems with the overhead panels. Just leave them there. That said, I'm not the ventilation expert. If you notice any moisture/frost inside from their breath/poop, then remove the panels for more ventilation. Frostbite is the main concern, not so much cold temps.

I wouldn't open any windward ground-level panels in winter (except for the door/bird door) to keep them protected during the day at floor level.

The waterer looks okay, but be sure to hang it up a ways to minimize them kicking dirt into it. Having power is good, but 240v vs. 110v could be an issue. Check into that.

On protecting the run area: I only cover any wind-facing sides to block the wind. Other sides can remain uncovered.

 

[TooCheep]

I recommend you put your general location in your profile. Although you did list it in your OP, it will make it easier for future queries/answers.

 

[Ahoragi]

I don't think there would be problems with the overhead panels. Just leave them there. That said, I'm not the ventilation expert. If you notice any moisture/frost inside from their breath/poop, then remove the panels for more ventilation. Frostbite is the main concern, not so much cold temps.

I wouldn't open any windward ground-level panels in winter (except for the door/bird door) to keep them protected during the day at floor level.

The waterer looks okay, but be sure to hang it up a ways to minimize them kicking dirt into it. Having power is good, but 240v vs. 110v could be an issue. Check into that.

On protecting the run area: I only cover any wind-facing sides to block the wind. Other sides can remain uncovered.

Thanks for the tips. We place the waterers on cinder blocks for that very reason. Less dirt gets kicked in. Will probably hang this one if we are able to block the wind in the secure run, otherwise it will swing all over the place. Wind has a mind of it's own here. It will come from north one day, south the next day, then up over my barn into the west side of the run. Selling kites in this area would make us rich.

Sorry I made a typo. It is 220v, not 240v. I fixed it above.

I recommend you put your general location in your profile. Although you did list it in your OP, it will make it easier for future queries/answers.

Done.

 

[TooCheep]

My winds are easier to deal with. I can get away with only protecting two sides.

Cinder blocks are a good alternative to hanging. Use whichever works for you.