Need help with winter advice

[CIuck]

It is starting to get cold here. What is the best way to drill a hole into the coop without the chickens freezing to death. We need to fit the cord for the heated water and the heated mat.

 

[LizzzyJo]

If you have heated water inside a henhouse then you need flawless ventilation and lots of it. Your cord should go through these ventilation spots above the roosting bar. Cold is not dangerous to chickens, but moisture is. As the water turns into vapor it soaks down feathers and kills chickens. I keep my heated water outside only because of this issue.

 

[Aapomp831]

They are not going to freeze to death. Drill the holes up high, above where they roost so they are not in the way of a direct draft. As long as they have a place to get out of the elements, they will be fine. They have a layer of down under their feathers (the same stuff we use to stuff comforters that keep us warm at night). They are barnyard animals, and don’t forget chickens have survived long before human beings started building them coops.

 

[Aapomp831]

If you have heated water inside a henhouse then you need flawless ventilation and lots of it. Your cord should go through these ventilation spots above the roosting bar. Cold is not dangerous to chickens, but moisture is. As the water turns into vapor it soaks down feathers and kills chickens. I keep my heated water outside only because of this issue.

The main concern is the moisture settling on their combs... causes frostbite.
But I agree - no water in the coop overnight. They don’t drink overnight anyway. Put the water out in the morning and dump it at night.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I have kept water in the coop for 27 years. Only one year when we had a week of -20 temps did I ever have frostbite. If you have enough ventilation, it is not a problem.

 

[Aapomp831]

I have kept water in the coop for 27 years. Only one year when we had a week of -20 temps did I ever have frostbite. If you have enough ventilation, it is not a problem.

It’s just not necessary in my opinion. Chickens don’t eat or drink overnight, and the water has to changed everyday anyway so why not dump it at night and replenish in the morning? You may have a larger coop also - idk. But for a smaller flock with a smaller coop it’s just simply not a good idea.; better to be safe than sorry.

 

[aart]

It is starting to get cold here. What is the best way to drill a hole into the coop without the chickens freezing to death. We need to fit the cord for the heated water and the heated mat.

Post some pics of your coop, inside and out.
Also....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

It’s just not necessary in my opinion.

It is if you use early morning supplemental lighting.
Keeping water in the coop can be fine depending on several factors.

 

[CIuck]

Post some pics of your coop, insdie and out.
Also....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2396383


It is if you use early morning supplemental lighting.
Keeping water in the coop can be fine depending on several factors.

Here is an artical with pictures of my coop. I live in Ct. I just added it to my profil. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-amish-made-chicken-coop.75799/

 

[CIuck]

Thank all of you guys for the help. I will leave the water outside and I will drill some holes in the coop for the mat thank you guys!

 

[Ridgerunner]

It is starting to get cold here. What is the best way to drill a hole into the coop without the chickens freezing to death. We need to fit the cord for the heated water and the heated mat.

My concern with drilling a hole through that wood would not be that the chickens will freeze to death. They won't. But you might be making a hole that can let in rainwater in or maybe snakes or mice. If you are running a cable through and you will be attaching the fittings to the end after it is pulled the hole doesn't have to be very big so you may not need to do anything. But if you are using an extension cord you may need a fairly large hole to get the plug through.

The way I'd handle that would be to drill a hole in a piece of plywood and cut that plywood into two pieces through that hole. After the cable or wire is installed I'd fit those two pieces around the wire or cable and attach them to the wood wall. That should seal the hole.

I'd use some type of cable or wire clip to securely fasten the wire so it did not get blown around by the wind (plus just get it out of your way) to keep it from rubbing and wearing the insulation away.