Overwintering chickens

[Mggs]

Hi all! I’m a newbie to raising chickens. I love it! I am more of a hobby chicken raiser. I have 6 chickens. Anyhow, I live in zone 6 and winter will be approaching soon.i would like to overwinter my chickens in my unheated greenhouse, but not sure if this is possible. Any tips on how I would do this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and hoping you all Create a Beautiful Day!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I don't see why it wouldn't. Chickens don't need supplemental heat if kept out of the elements and if they have multiple birds to help with heat

 

[Percheron chick]

Absolutely. I'm in zone 5 and my chickens live in an open sided horse stall. Your only consideration will be humidity and condensation. Make sure they have tons of fresh air.

 

[DobieLover]

Hi all! I’m a newbie to raising chickens. I love it! I am more of a hobby chicken raiser. I have 6 chickens. Anyhow, I live in zone 6 and winter will be approaching soon.i would like to overwinter my chickens in my unheated greenhouse, but not sure if this is possible. Any tips on how I would do this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and hoping you all Create a Beautiful Day!

What is your current setup?
In zone 6 you would never need supplemental heat just a dry, very well ventilated coop. The run, if you have one, would be wintered using tarps or shower curtains or other tire of wind block.
Chickens don't keep each other warm. They fluff their own feathers to trap their body heat and keep themselves warm.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Zone 6 in the US. You will see freezing temperatures but it probably won't get below zero Fahrenheit. Piece of cake.

Where are the vents on that greenhouse? How big is it, in feet? What does your door look like?

You do not need to keep the chickens warm. You need to keep them dry and to give them a way to avoid cold winds. That way they can keep themselves warm with their down coat. Keeping them dry doesn't just mean keeping rain and snow out, it means good ventilation so the moisture from their breath and poop can get out, plus any moisture from the waterer. Ventilation is important.

Mine really hate a cold wind hitting them. As long as they are protected from a cold wind mine go outside when the temperatures are really cold. I took this photo when it was 4* F. I gave them the option to stay in or go out. Since a cold wind was not blowing they went out. They are not as afraid of the cold as you probably are. They are dressed for it.

 

[melodyrg]

I'm in 6b and designing a hoop coop that will be covered with a tarp in the winter, the front face will be open wire for ventilation. If it gets to chilly from the I'm going to stack hay bales along the front. I'm also using deep litter.

I'm pretty confident that the coop will be warm enough!

 

[EmilyRobb]

Hi all! I’m a newbie to raising chickens. I love it! I am more of a hobby chicken raiser. I have 6 chickens. Anyhow, I live in zone 6 and winter will be approaching soon.i would like to overwinter my chickens in my unheated greenhouse, but not sure if this is possible. Any tips on how I would do this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and hoping you all Create a Beautiful Day!

I'm in zone 3 and I keep my chickens in an uninsulated building. They're protected from the elements on the North outer wall of a garage building. They hardly get any cold winter winds and their frostbite is minimal if at all. The only heating thing I use is a heated waterer just incase. They seem to be pretty resilient even when the weather gets to -45*C

 

[Big Doggie]

I'm in zone 3 and I keep my chickens in an uninsulated building. They're protected from the elements on the North outer wall of a garage building. They hardly get any cold winter winds and their frostbite is minimal if at all. The only heating thing I use is a heated waterer just incase. They seem to be pretty resilient even when the weather gets to -45*C

I'm in zone 3 and I keep my chickens in an uninsulated building. They're protected from the elements on the North outer wall of a garage building. They hardly get any cold winter winds and their frostbite is minimal if at all. The only heating thing I use is a heated waterer just incase. They seem to be pretty resilient even when the weather gets to -45*C

Can I ask which waterer works for you?

 

[EmilyRobb]

Can I ask which waterer works for you?

Here's the waterer that I use, it's from Peavy Mart