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

[chickencoop57]

Chickens typically don't poop where they lay eggs, but sometimes they track in mud or poo in there on accident. So cleaning monthly is enough for my medium-sized flock.

I agree, PioneerChicks. I clean mine out only when they accidently poop in one but they very seldom do that and they hardly ever get the hay muddy, the egg's sometimes. However, I did have some young ones that would jump in the nest at night to sleep, instead of the roast, and they would crap all over the hay but I fixed that by putting a hinged cover over the 4 nest. I just lower it by rope and pulley's from the outside of coop, just as its getting dark and theyre entering the enclosed coop and then I raise it back up at first daylight. Works great!

 

[PioneerChicks]

I agree, PioneerChicks. I clean mine out only when they accidently poop in one but they very seldom do that and they hardly ever get the hay muddy, the egg's sometimes. However, I did have some young ones that would jump in the nest at night to sleep, instead of the roast, and they would crap all over the hay but I fixed that by putting a hinged cover over the 4 nest. I just lower it by rope and pulley's from the outside of coop, just as its getting dark and theyre entering the enclosed coop and then I raise it back up at first daylight. Works great!

That's a great idea for keeping them out at night! I'll remember this!

 

[CatSeg57]

We have covered the hardware cloth on 3 sides of the run with plexiglass to block the wind. It seems nice in there, and of course we covered all windows in the coop the same way. Good ventilation over head.
I think they should be fine all winter (fingers crossed).
We had below freezing temps only two days so far, so I go out before sun up and every two hours or so to be sure their water is ok.
I so love my ladies.

 

[KyCarolyn]

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.

I have a hoop chicken tractor which has been stationary since November. I have a tarp over it that I open for air and light depending on wind and weather. I use DLM and have not had much odor. When our nightly lows got between 0 and 16, I used a heat lamp to keep them warm.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Its Autumn now so I'm starting to prepare for Winter by using tarps over the sides of their coop but leaving a 4m x 30cm gap at the top on 1 side for ventilation. Also on another side I won't tie down the bottom of tarps like a window opening for more ventilation, but still rain protection.

 

[writerskramp]

Its Autumn now so I'm starting to prepare for Winter by using tarps over the sides of their coop but leaving a 4m x 30cm gap at the top on 1 side for ventilation. Also on another side I won't tie down the bottom of tarps like a window opening for more ventilation, but still rain protection.

Autumn?.. Rain..? Must be nice. Subzero and single digit.. Two feet of snow on the ground, and that's nothing... Ventilation is utmost important.. Chicken wear down vests. There was a day when I wore one.. Those days are gone. Now wear a antique woolen coat in layers.. and hat.. Where's your hat..? Ever walk into your chicken crib only to have your nose and eyes burn from ammonia. Imagine living in that environment 24/7, you can't. Good job.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Autumn?.. Rain..? Must be nice. Subzero and single digit.. Two feet of snow on the ground, and that's nothing... Ventilation is utmost important.. Chicken wear down vests. There was a day when I wore one.. Those days are gone. Now wear a antique woolen coat in layers.. and hat.. Where's your hat..? Ever walk into your chicken crib only to have your nose and eyes burn from ammonia. Imagine living in that environment 24/7, you can't. Good job.

I have learnt the hard way with basically no ventilation, scared they were too cold in a greenhouse. It was boiling hot in there in the middle of Winter! Lucky the storm blew it all down so they had plenty of ventilation ... So that setup didn't last long.
Now its bottom half wood and top half open (with wire netting) and roofing sheets over the top.

 

[Chiknoodle]

Every year the winter season presents a lot of challenges for the backyard chicken keeper. So we would like to find out how you keep your girls happy, healthy, and comfortable as the outside temperatures plummet and the winter weather rages.

How do you keep your flock warm in the winter? Place your vote above.

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My shavens keep them warm in their coop.

 

[Show Sebright]

I live in Florida it doesn’t get that cold. Maybe more bedding if it gets in the 50s

 

[DatCampG]

When it is super cold (icicle/snow cold) my chickens get two square bales of hay and two 250w heat lamps and then the water buckets do not freeze.