Official BYC Poll: How do you keep your flock warm in the winter?

How do you keep your flock warm in the winter?

  • I've Insulated Their Coop

    Votes: 80 26.0%
  • I use the Deep Litter Method

    Votes: 92 29.9%
  • I use Heat Lamps

    Votes: 25 8.1%
  • I provide lots of draft-free ventilation

    Votes: 148 48.1%
  • I use Sweeter Heaters

    Votes: 6 1.9%
  • I use Plate Heaters

    Votes: 12 3.9%
  • Nothing, their feathers keep them warm

    Votes: 171 55.5%
  • Other (please elaborate in a reply below)

    Votes: 35 11.4%

  • Total voters
    308
Pics
I do not heat or insulate in winter. I only worry about keeping the flock out of direct direct cold air.
Due to an increase in flock: This year i went from a great 2 story wood coop that had run on ground level and roosts & boxes on 2nd floor. With a larger roofed exterior run. Poop and food mess in coop was never a major issue because they only laid eggs and slept in there. Now I have a large covered hoop coop with unroofed exterior run. Wow has my work load increased!
Now I fight coop heat/cold, humidity and ammonia, and preditors in outside run! I found proper ventilation is vital now! In the summer the coop cover sides will be rolled up and this first winter sides down with bottom half of large front and back doors uncovered for airflow. The roosts are set high & back away from doors.
I built the new coop over part of the deep bed large run. That proved to create too much ammonia. So i leveled the floor, lined it with chicken wire, then added sand. Every morning I let the flock out, collect eggs, food & water, then scoop poop ( i wear a mask). This is working ok so far, but is way more work. I may have to go back to a smaller flock and reopen the wood coop :(

I would love to hear safer, cheaper better ways to keep a flock in a hoop coop, if there is any.
A tractor coop (on wheels) is nice. One can move it all over the property with the tractor, four wheeler or riding lawn mower. 🙂
 

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