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.

 

[Golden buff]

I saw on Amazon you can buy a brooding mat that heats up when a chick is on it. Also will keep eggs from freezing. I plan on trying it out in my omlet pro this winter

 

[GlutenFree]

I'm also wondering if your coop is sitting on the ground.
Other thought/question is does the cover block the vents? That would hold in condensation and be trouble.
I have a cube and my friend has the go. We both have the tractor kit with the supports and the wheels. Our chickens are fine down to -20. (In MT, though I recently moved to WY.) No cover, no heat. The omlets prevent drafts while providing venting which are the 2 key points for cold.
Yeah, poop and eggs are going to freeze at those temps. A spatula or metal kitty litter scoop easily scrape off the frozen turds. Frozen eggs I just put in a dish in the fridge to thaw and use for baking.
My girls did get some frostbite at -20, I think that it came down to who tucked their heads under their wings at night. It seems like roosters are more prone to frostbite because they have bigger combs and wattles and don't hunker down like hens because they are on gaurd.
Do not add heat. It's dangerous for fire AND your chickens won't be acclimated. So if power goes out, you lose the heat and the chickens can die because they haven't acclimated properly.
I've been happy with my cube year-round in extreme climate and grizzly country (though I did add electric poultry netting in spring and fall for good measure).

We are going into our first winter with the eglu cube. How do we set it up for a successful winter? Do we need to move it since it's a tractor when it snows? If we don't move it for a couple of months would it be advised to layer hemp on the ground outside to help prevent parasites? Is it advised to get plastic to cover the top and sides of the run to block out all wind? We are in Iowa and it's quite windy here in the winter.

 

[FrostRanger]

We are going into our first winter with the eglu cube. How do we set it up for a successful winter? Do we need to move it since it's a tractor when it snows? If we don't move it for a couple of months would it be advised to layer hemp on the ground outside to help prevent parasites? Is it advised to get plastic to cover the top and sides of the run to block out all wind? We are in Iowa and it's quite windy here in the winter.

Don't put plastic on the coop itself (on the run on the windiest sides is fine), the eglu already has poor ventilation, poor ventilation leads to moisture buildup which leads to frostbite. I would actually add more ventilation, you want at least 1sqft of ventilation per bird or you will run into issues such as ammonia buildup, it being too hot in summer and frostbitten birds in winter

 

[Bawkbok]

Is it advised to get plastic to cover the top and sides of the run to block out all wind?

Yes. I recommend tarping it out on the side of prevailing wind. Omlet does make specific tarps for rain / wind mitigation. They are quite expensive but we have numerous sizes that are specific to the type of coop you have. They hold up well to the elements of heavy wind and rain and have heavy duty bungee cords for attachment to the run. They frequently have these items on sale so watch for that. I suspect they would hold up in the snow but I can't speak to your snow questions as we never see a flake in FL. You don't want to cover the vents as keeping them open and accessible is necessary for ventilation even in winter.

We had a cube but we moved it every day or two. If I had one in a snowy environment I would brick out the skirt and leave it in place during snow. You can use pine shavings on the run floor to help insulate from the cold ground and give them something to scratch in. If the shavings get wet, they should dry out in sun and wind and will eventually decompose.

I don't recommend you use a heating element inside the coop as it's plastic and I would be fearful of fire or melting if overheating.