Question about survival for my chickens in the winter months

[meg2566]

I am a new chicken Mom - 5 Rhode Island Reds and 5 Americanas. We are about to move them to their outside coop my husband just built. I know they will be fine this summer, but what do I need for them during the winter months here in Colorado. We live in a windy area on the side of a mountain. The chickens will have a large inside area where their nesting boxes sit with insultated walls around the inside shelter. They will have access to the outdoors during the winter, if they wish. We are planning to add an outlet for the heat lamp and lights. Is this necessary during the winter? Will they just acclimate to the temperatures or do we need to control the inside temp for them? Someone once mentioned that if we keep long light on them during the winter they will lay eggs all winter long. Is this true? I'd love some advice!!

 

[CityChook]

First,

from MN!!

There is a TON of great information on this website about how to keep chickens in cold climates from people as far north as Alaska. It sounds like you have a great start. Go to the search key in the blue bar above and put in "winter" or "cold" for a search and you'll find tons of great advice.

You can also check out these pages for more information:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=7693-seasonal-concerns
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=8650-winter-chickens
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-VENTILATION
I'm sure there are more, but this will get you started...

With good insulation and proper ventilation, you may not even need heat. You will probably need a heated water dish though, to keep your water thawed. Having an outlet just in case is wise. Personally, I hardwired my heat light and put it on a switch - so easy to operate - I love it.

Good luck!!

 

[meg2566]

thank you for the response. you've provided me with great resources. Now I just need to learn to insert all the nifty characters and pictures like everyone posts.

 

[CityChook]

In time, in time. PS - "Smilies (show)" is beside the message space when you're posting. "Img" is for image (load your photos into photobucket first). You'll get it. Welcome!

 

[patandchickens]

We are planning to add an outlet for the heat lamp and lights. Is this necessary during the winter? Will they just acclimate to the temperatures or do we need to control the inside temp for them?

In dry and draft-free (but well ventilated -- just no air movement *at* the chickens, you know?) air, they will be fine down towards 0 F and quite likely considerably below, you will just have to observe them and use your judgement about when/whether heat might be needed on the coldest nights. If you get below -30 F you most likely *will* need a heat lamp sometimes, but I dunno whether your climate is that bad.

Your plan of having an outlet available just in case you should ever decide to run a lamp is a good one -- you may never need to use it but it's a handy option to have.

Someone once mentioned that if we keep long light on them during the winter they will lay eggs all winter long. Is this true?

Well, to some degree. Less than 14ish hrs of light per day decreases laying in most chickens, especially after their first year or so; some breeds/individuals are not going to lay much (or perhaps at all) in the winter no matter *how* much extra light you give them, while others (most notably production Leghorns and sexlinks) may lay straight thru the winter even with very short days; but on average yes you have a better chance of a decent # eggs if you add light. Although there is some debate as to how good this is for the chickens' longer-term reproductive health.

It needn't be lotsa light - a single 40-60w bulb is plenty in a typical backyard type coop.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​