Need help with winterizing coop

[Stcoeur2k17]

Hi everyone ! My husband made this coop in the spring for our 3 laying hens (silkie, white leghorn, Rhode Island Red) and in wondering if it will work as a winter coop as its smaller and the run is small (they free range now) I know I'll have to tarp off their run will this be big enough for them (3x5 ft) or should I extend it and also where do I leave the ventilation holes in the tarp in the bottom run - just an inch around the top ?

I've read a lot about deep litter method so I'm nervous I'll have to make a new coop for the winter with taller walls.... I love our girls and want them 100% safe this winter so if I have to build bigger we will but if I could make this work I'd really appreciate any advice !!

 

[CntryBoy777]

It looks fine to me, but your location can play a really big part in whether it will suffice in your winter conditions....the only thing I might would do, if you are in a windy area, is to put a couple of pcs of plywood on the cold wind sides of the bottom as wind breaks. The plywood wouldn't have to be from the ground up to the coop, but maybe half to 2/3s the way up. Here at our place in NW Mississippi the cold winds come from the north and east, so with what ya have there, I would put the pcs of plywood on the north and east side.....but, we are only in the Fall and not Winter...and the wood would only take 4 screws each in the corners, so it is done very quickly and I would do it before coming bad weather....but, only a day or 2, not months. The birds have feathers and can regulate their body temps quite well....I'm sure they will do just fine as long as they have ventilation....