Omlet Eglu Coop - How to Keep it Warm in Winter??

[Bawkbok]

Thanks for sharing the update @ChicoryBlue. It's great to hear your girls are managing well in this heat with all your modifications. It's nice to think about cold temperatures!

We've added a 5th fan due to the extreme heat indices (yesterday was 115) so they have high air flow from all directions in and out of the coop even though it is moving hot air. Without a breeze at all (day and night), I figure hot air movement is better than no air movement. That coupled with wetting the run dirt in the hottest part of the day, helps them to maintain as best as possible. Still much panting with wings out. I check on them frequently. I wish they all would change to early morning laying vs the heat of the day.
Even with the coop being covered by a canopy under trees, it still is the same in as out - again - fans blowing hot air around. The only consolation is by the time they coop, I'm able to lower the temp inside with three fans blasting and doors off and open.

I have completely removed the trays and it remains open space with a large fan blowing directly in from the backside at night. Another fan in the front blowing up toward the roof interior with the auto door remaining open all night and a third fan hanging inside on the window blowing out the front keeps the air circulating fairly well.
Hope our updates helps others in the same predicament.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I do NOT use the winter blanket because it blocks the several ventilation points - back and front, upper sides, and lower seams all around.

I tried it on the Cube a couple years ago, and it really didn't do anything temperature-wise. It also didn't seem to affect the humidity (I have a sensor, too), which shocked me. Either way, I'm not convinced it's worth it.

I wish they all would change to early morning laying vs the heat of the day.

My first one just laid at 4pm. I'm praying she bumps it to early morning, because that is pretty much the worst time to lay an egg in an Eglu.

 

[Bawkbok]

My first one just laid at 4pm. I'm praying she bumps it to early morning, because that is pretty much the worst time to lay an egg in an Eglu.

Agreed. We have a BO that likes to lay between 3-5PM the hottest part of the day. I sit out there (melting) to keep an ear and eye on her, checking frequently for status. As soon as that egg drops, I grab it and push her out.

We'll all get through this --- c'mon October!!!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Agreed. We have a BO that likes to lay between 3-5PM the hottest part of the day. I sit out there (melting) to keep an ear and eye on her, checking frequently for status. As soon as that egg drops, I grab it and push her out.

We'll all get through this --- c'mon October!!!

Interesting. Hens often have an internal laying clock different from 24 hours (27 typical) so I would expect the laying time to shift.

 

[Bawkbok]

Interesting. Hens often have an internal laying clock different from 24 hours (27 typical) so I would expect the laying time to shift.

I know, which is why it is confusing to me. I'm waiting for that shift of time to happen. We have a smaller BO who lays approximately same time every day - early to mid morning. Been doing that for two months now, never shifted her times at all. These chickens keep me on my toes for sure. The heat has everyone out of whack. Our production breed has been laying every other day - two eggs, one soft shelled and the other decent, both miss the paint department entirely. Got to be the heat. I'm just happy they're all alive.