Question about free ranging in winter...

[Jjccjess]

This is our first year with chcikens. We have 6, converted an old shed into a coop .very roomy. We are aware of good ventilation and no leaks for winter, just didn't know what to do with our free range hens. We have an attached run that we built. We cut a hole on the side of the coop so they'd have access to the run. My question is does that need to be covered for winter? Won't that let a huge draft in? But then how would they use the run?

Question make sense?
Thanks for your help

 

[Kwimmer78]

I have one of those on my coop. I let the door open during the day so they can play out on the run. At night I put a board in front of the hole to keep the cold air out and then open it in the morning

 

[blackdog043]

A pic of your coop would help to answer this better, so not knowing what your set up looks like. Can you put a board up about a foot away from the pop door opening, to prevent the wind from blowing in? Also if you put your general location in your profile, we will know what your weather is like and it will help us give better answers.

 

[Jjccjess]

A pic of your coop would help to answer this better, so not knowing what your set up looks like. Can you put a board up about a foot away from the pop door opening, to prevent the wind from blowing in? Also if you put your general location in your profile, we will know what your weather is like and it will help us give better answers.

Sorry anout that! I can get a pic tomorrow. It's just a square cut out, on the side, directly into the run .No covering or door. I'm thinking we'll just put a piece of wood over it for cold nights .I'm in West MI, about 30 mins from lake MI .we get pretty decent winters

 

[PetesChicks]

@aart has a “porch” at the pop door to her run, to stop the wind. I’m sure she’ll be here and post a picture of it for you.

 

[aart]

Sorry anout that! I can get a pic tomorrow. It's just a square cut out, on the side, directly into the run .No covering or door. I'm thinking we'll just put a piece of wood over it for cold nights .I'm in West MI, about 30 mins from lake MI .we get pretty decent winters

Welcome to BYC from a fellow Michiganian!

Whether to leave your pop door open all night may depend on how predator proof your run is. My runs are pretty predator proof, but pop doors are locked tight at night just in case.

I too am about 30 mins from the Big Lake..... my pop door faces west, so I built a 'foyer' to block that nasty west wind night and day. I had planned on the awning to protect pop door, but then had these slider window panels so rigged them as a wind break. Keeps snow and rain out as pop door is open all day, and protects the pop door from getting soaked and warping. Here it is during run construction.

 

[centrarchid]

Consider placing some square hay bales in run. Organize so they provide location that is elevated relative to deep snow and gives a wind break to a location that also gets direct sun during dead of winter.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

A lot depends on your set-up, if you can post some photos of your coop/run that would be great.

Everyone has different methods and housing. I have for the most part roofed runs, but I agree with @centrarchid hay or straw bales work well as wind blocks. I also use tarps where needed and put up underpinning to help block wind coming from the North underneath the coop. I used straw bales to make a "corner" in the main run. We had a great deal of wind last winter so I also placed a straw bale inside the coop to help block wind coming inside the pop door during the day (door is shut/secured at night).

I've also found that inside the coop as well as the run make bedding "deeper" for your flock to snuggle into during the day. I break up 1 bale and make "fluffed up" piles in the coop for them as well as outside in the run. Straw is raked up/removed/replaced as needed.

photo at beginning of winter, as temps get colder more straw is added.