Need help winterizing coop!

[LoveMyPeeps]

This will be my first winter with chickens and I live in frosty Upstate NY. I can't imagine any amount of sealing out drafts or added pine shavings will proected my peepers without some other form of heat. What do you use to heat your coop? My husband was planning on securing heat lamps inside. I'd love to hear from others who have long, snowy winters and chickens!

 

[redoak]

I'm turning my coop so the wall with four 27x36 windows faces south to collect any solar heat. I'm also using the deep litter method that will generate a little heat. I'm going to get some door foam strips to help seal out any drafts around the coop door and chicken door. The last resort will be a heat lamp on the very cold upstate NY nights.

 

[Chicken of the Sea]

I live in North East PA (Tioga County) and have the same type of winters. I dont have an insulated coop but it is draft free and well vented.
The roosts are 2x4s so they can rest and cover their feet on the 4 side. The feathers will do the rest.

 

[LoveMyPeeps]

Thank you both. It's great to hear that I am really just worrying too much!

My chicken coop is always open, leading into a large fenced in area. I assume that once winter comes, I will be keeping the chickens soley in their coop? Will they be okay, with me checking in on them once a day to clean their coop, keep their water and feed fresh and remove eggs? How cold does it have to be for me to shut them inside for the winter? Will they benefit at all from being allowed out in their yard when it snows?

 

[redoak]

Unless it is below 20 during the day I'm letting my chickens out and going to try to keep an area shoveled for them. They will benefit from the fresh air and room to run around. Plus they won't be cooped up and get bored and possibly peck at each other.

 

[Omran]

hello everybody,I just likto mention that to much insilation will take the ventilation away from the birds and it is vry critical for them to have enough oxigene,I was going to do the same to my coop but my friend next door to me showed me his coop and he's been rasing chickens for almost all his life,he said just don't worry too much thier fether will protect them and they will adjust for the weather.
Please do not think I know more than anyone els,I am just trying to tell you what I heard,besides I live in KY it get cold here but not like other states.
good Luck
Omran

 

[hens@reddirthill]

This will be our first winter with chickens, so it's a learning process, but with our coop (thank you everyone on the forum for sharing your advice!): we converted our old shed (previously the outhouse) and installed leftover fiberglass batting between the wall and ceiling joists then covered it with scrap wood. I drilled cross-ventilation holes up at the peak and covered it with screen. We installed two south facing windows and hung a curtain to cover them at night. And then hung an old curtain just inside the 'people door' so they don't get that frigid blast when it opens.

We live in the Rockies at 9000' and our winters are long and cold and snowy. Hopefully this will keep the girls happy.

Anything else I should worry about?

 

[redoak]

I just likto mention that to much insilation will take the ventilation away from the birds and it is vry critical for them to have enough oxigene

I have a large cupola on my coop for a vent, my door and chicken door sealing would be to prevent drafts onto the chickens.​

 

[LoveMyPeeps]

That's good information, I thought the idea of sealing everything tight AND having plenty of ventilation was quite a conundrum!

So just drilling vent holes near the roof (and covering them with screen) will be adequate?

Do any of you use heated water bowls or will the chickens generate enough heat inside their coop to keep it thawed?

 

[JohnL11935]

I recommend you all read Patandchicken's "Big Ol' VENTILATION Page"

I think you will find it very useful.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-VENTILATION!