preparing for winter

[Noodlynoo]

I am thinking ahead for the winter and wondering if what I have is going to be ok during the colder months.

My 4 girls (Wyndottes) have quite an open run with a roof on one half and boarded up at one end. They also have access to a small building for night perching and egg laying, but not a lot of space for 'hanging around' in.

Will my open run be too cold for them during the winter or do I need to close it in a bit more? I am in the UK so dont get the harsh winters that many others have, but it can get down to -10 some years, though that is exceptional.

It worries me though that if I box it in more, it will then be too hot come the summer again!!

 

[kittydoc]

If the small building is enclosed, but also well ventilated, I think you will be fine. Is the one boarded side facing the windiest side in winter? Also, you can add heavy but clear plastic sheeting in a pinch. We add it every winter to the bottom meter of the coop as a wind and snow block. Hope this helps!

 

[Noodlynoo]

If the small building is enclosed, but also well ventilated, I think you will be fine.

The small building is enclosed and cosy, but ventilated. The side that gets the worst of the winter weather is indeed the one boarded. I guess its a matter of "suck it and see" experiment for my first year!!!

 

[vehve]

I'm a bit north from you, facing a similar problem soon. I'm going to buy something resembling plexiglass and put that up around the run to keep snow out, and sort of make the run into a uninsulated coop for the winter.

@kittydoc This sounds horribly condescending towards Yanks, but props for your choice of units in your answer when replying to a person living in a metric world.