New Chicken mama ready to winterize.

[cacklemama]

I'm looking to make sure I don't over do it or do to little. I live at the Jersey shore about 4 miles inland so noreaster winds are a factor. I plan on using 4 gauge vinyl to wrap the run leaving an inch at the top for ventalation and firing strips to attach and not sealing at bottom leaving a 3 inch overhang on the ground. I hope thats right. My biggest concern is the coop. My chicks are only 7 weeks old and of course I've read to much and confused myself. I'm using construction sand for litter. The 2 entery doors have 1/4 gap on 3 sides I would like to drape something over them just attach it to the top and washers for weight at the bottom and let it hang. The windows have slide closures and Im vented where the roof meets the walls 1/2 On all sides. I also have a cozy heater if and when should I use it. We do get overnight temps in the single digits. So the post is so long. Want to do the best I can for them.

 

[TwinsLoveChicks]

So adorable! Would love to see interior pics!
@aart will know much more than me about ventilation.

It is beautiful! I'm sure your girls must be very happy!

 

[cacklemama]

Thank you

I moved the larger coops roosts up a foot off the bedding. Nesting boxes are blocked until laying age. What are your thought for winter?

 

[Molpet]

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/c...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

 

[junebuggena]

It's a very pretty coop, but it has one serious flaw. Doesn't look like you built in any permanent ventilation. You need about 1 sq foot of permanent ventilation per bird, which isn't going to be easily done with the way you have built that coop. You don't have much eave space, doubt you can open any of that up. And you don't have enough overhang for gable vents. Don't close up the whole run, it's already in a pretty shelter spot. Can you open up that wall between the coop and run more? Might be your best option, all things considered.
Ventilation is far more important than heaters, tarping, and sealing up every tiny gap.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

Deep, dry bedding. Dry is key. I bed with a thick THICK layer of straw or pine shavings both in and out. Prepare to have to change this often in the bitter cold. This is their protection from moisture and an insulator. Control drafts and keep wet OUT. If they are dry they can stay warm on their own typically. If not, then they are going to be vulnerable. Free choice feed. A hen will fill her crop every night before bed especially in winter, and the metabolization of feed warms the body up.

 

[cacklemama]

It's a very pretty coop, but it has one serious flaw. Doesn't look like you built in any permanent ventilation. You need about 1 sq foot of permanent ventilation per bird, which isn't going to be easily done with the way you have built that coop. You don't have much eave space, doubt you can open any of that up. And you don't have enough overhang for gable vents. Don't close up the whole run, it's already in a pretty shelter spot. Can you open up that wall between the coop and run more? Might be your best option, all things considered.
Ventilation is far more important than heaters, tarping, and sealing up every tiny gap.

They are prefab coops. I'm 5'3" and can stand up in the larger coop if the bottom tray is removed and have at least a foot above my head. Should I cut out a vent in the back of coop?

 

[junebuggena]

They are prefab coops. I'm 5'3" and can stand up in the larger coop if the bottom tray is removed and have at least a foot above my head. Should I cut out a vent in the back of coop?

You don't have enough of a roof overhang for a typical gable vent on the backside. Maybe if you installed a few louvered vent covers from a hardware store, over cut-to-size vents. Take out the upper portion of the interior coop wall, where it faces the run, leaving the portion with the pop doors up to shield the roosts from wind. That should help moisture and ammonia move out of the coop. Could you possibly make the were the two coops join more open? Doesn't look like you have any roosts in that smaller coop, so you can leave that window uncovered to draw in more fresh air.

 

[cacklemama]

You don't have enough of a roof overhang for a typical gable vent on the backside. Maybe if you installed a few louvered vent covers from a hardware store, over cut-to-size vents. Take out the upper portion of the interior coop wall, where it faces the run, leaving the portion with the pop doors up to shield the roosts from wind. That should help moisture and ammonia move out of the coop. Could you possibly make the were the two coops join more open? Doesn't look like you have any roosts in that smaller coop, so you can leave that window uncovered to draw in more fresh air.

so I need to do both coop run wall and back of coop. I have 2 roost one high and one lower in the smaller coop and 2 nesting boxes. The larger coop has 2 roosts and 2 nesting boxes. I can remove the roosts in the smaller one.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

This is a thread regarding tsc coop mods. This is where they start talking about ventilation. Maybe you could give the aluminum vents a try. According to what I’ve read, the ventilation needs to be above the roosts so that it doesn’t become a draft on the chickens.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tsc-coop-run-modification-design-thoughts.1163397/page-6