Will from time to time be seeking advice particularly on managing chickens in sub-zero temperatures, particularly from folks who also have to deal with this issue. Still remodeling a playhouse into a coop, haven't wired it yet, but I plan to have an electric water heater to keep the water fluid, and an incandescent light (I stocked up on incandescents before they become illegal) on a timer to give them light during the day (we also get a lot of dark in the winter, only about three to four hours of daylight in December) and a little extra heat. The coop is insulated with 2" foam all around, sheathed with plywood. It's a smallish coop, I can stand up in it, but the floor is a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood, with the square footage reduced by adding insulation, it's enough for 4 square feet apiece for about 6 cold-hardy hens and one bantam silkie. I'll get chicks this coming spring.
Anyone out there with experience with this? We can get down to 40 below or colder, more commonly it gets 20-30 below for days or weeks at a time, but can also warm up to 30 above if the right warm air masses move in. The temperature can change up or down by 40-60 degrees in a few hours, when the conditions are right.
Today it was a balmy 55 degrees, and no snow yet, life is good...
Anyone out there with experience with this? We can get down to 40 below or colder, more commonly it gets 20-30 below for days or weeks at a time, but can also warm up to 30 above if the right warm air masses move in. The temperature can change up or down by 40-60 degrees in a few hours, when the conditions are right.
Today it was a balmy 55 degrees, and no snow yet, life is good...
