Preparing Your Flock & Coop for WINTER

[islandgirl82]

How much do you want to bet that between this Polar Vortex and our real winter we have some spring/fall like days.

We had a snow storm here two weeks ago that knocked our power out for several days, sending crews from NY up here to help fix the lines. During those days all the snow melted, grass is still green and it's been t-shirt and flip flop weather...but I'm one of those freaky people who doesn't put the summer clothes away until it takes more than a day for the snow to burn off.

 

[ReillyJ]

I wonder if someone could please ANSWER? Asked this question two times, at least weigh in, please

Should i close up part of the other door? Their run is covered with plastic so no drafts, the board is somewhat closing the door next to their roost.

Temps will be in the low 20's tonight. There's a small window high in the coop on other side. Just very afraid of not enough ventilation... maybe i should just leave open..

 

[Percheron chick]

Are you referring to the people door? I would cover with a piece of plywood or at least some plastic. I don't think you have to worry about not enough ventilation because you have gaps the will allow enough air exchange to keep the humidity down.

When you have a specific question needing answered, start a new topic. I don't bother to look at posts that have 100's of responses as they are typically conversations going on between the posters and the subject matter has long changed and is no longer relevant to the original post.

 

[islandgirl82]

I wonder if someone could please ANSWER? Asked this question two times, at least weigh in, please

Should i close up part of the other door? Their run is covered with plastic so no drafts, the board is somewhat closing the door next to their roost.

Temps will be in the low 20's tonight. There's a small window high in the coop on other side. Just very afraid of not enough ventilation... maybe i should just leave open..

I wouldn't worry about it if there's plenty of ventilation and run is covered overhead and around the sides preventing any drafts and it's dry in there. Chickens can handle the cold but if you'd feel better in doing so, then go for it, you'll jus have to go open it each morning so they can get out to the run. You could make a dutch style door so you can open the top and/or the bottom so you have the option.

 

[ReillyJ]

I wouldn't worry about it if there's plenty of ventilation and run is covered overhead and around the sides preventing any drafts and it's dry in there. Chickens can handle the cold but if you'd feel better in doing so, then go for it, you'll jus have to go open it each morning so they can get out to the run. You could make a dutch style door so you can open the top and/or the bottom so you have the option.

Yep i go out early every morning to give them food and check on water. Those chickens exasperate me! They HATE the covered run, they will stay on their roost or in the coop until i let them out to free range! They think the run is the boogey man!

I think i'm going to take them off the roost in the morning and make them go in the run (they probably won't stay there), that run had a concrete floor until a couple days ago when i covered it so the rain/cold wouldn't get in and i put nice comfy pine shavings down. GOOD GRIEF, LOL they think the run is SATAN!

Just covered the other door with plastic, leaving a bit of ventilation

 

[islandgirl82]

Yep i go out early every morning to give them food and check on water. Those chickens exasperate me! They HATE the covered run, they will stay on their roost or in the coop until i let them out to free range! They think the run is the boogey man!

I think i'm going to take them off the roost in the morning and make them go in the run (they probably won't stay there), that run had a concrete floor until a couple days ago when i covered it so the rain/cold wouldn't get in and i put nice comfy pine shavings down. GOOD GRIEF, LOL they think the run is SATAN!

Just covered the other door with plastic, leaving a bit of ventilation

You could always feed and water them out in the run...they won't avoid it if there's food in it. Do you have roosts or anything in the run...things for them to explore? Eventually they'll get curious enough...especially when they realize they can still get sunshine and be protected from the elements. Might just take them a while.

 

[ReillyJ]

You could always feed and water them out in the run...they won't avoid it if there's food in it. Do you have roosts or anything in the run...things for them to explore? Eventually they'll get curious enough...especially when they realize they can still get sunshine and be protected from the elements. Might just take them a while.

Oh, i've always had the food/water out in the run but since enclosing it in plastic (about 3 days ago) they pretty much stay in the coop and even on the roost, not eating.

GOOD GRIEF! I'm just going to have to take them off the roost and put them in the run, i think i did that the other day.

 

[islandgirl82]

Oh, i've always had the food/water out in the run but since enclosing it in plastic (about 3 days ago) they pretty much stay in the coop and even on the roost, not eating.

GOOD GRIEF! I'm just going to have to take them off the roost and put them in the run, i think i did that the other day.

Oh, they'll get over it...eventually.

 

[CanaDawn]

well, we've had a few nights of -26C/-15F already, so today's -10C/14F was balmy and lovely, especially without the brutal winds from the weekend.

Other than the water freezing, things are ok so far with the chickens.

Anyone who knows real cold though, knows that it's not surviving a few cold nights that matter so much, but the ability to maintain one's self over a long haul of well below freezing temperatures, so I'm still not 100% sure we're set.

I just noticed my red lamp is an infrared bulb, which I seem to remember someone saying the birds can see...what kind of red heat lamp would they not be disturbed by?

 

[CanaDawn]

Oh, and even in this cold and wind, we have 6 chickeneggs and 3 duck eggs so far today.

The cold doesn't matter as much as the hours of sunlight.