question on the coop

[taterbug]

i have an old barn that has a side coming out that is covered and am planning on enclosure for hens at night with a run attached...battery recharging so i can download a picture.
the only wall is the wall to the east side that is part of the barn...my friend as suggested that i not enclose the whole coop with wood...to go part of the way up (about three feet) and wire the rest of it. this would leave half wall facing the north, half wall facing west, and half wall facing the south where the run is. my question is that making certain that it will be varmit proof...will this be enough shelter for them in the winter...our temperatures sometimes get in the teen but most of the time not below freezing. at those times could i not put something up as temporary wall or do you think i need to go ahead and wall up three sides...if i do that could i leave spacing between boards of about 1/2 to 1 inch...the whole inside of the coop would have wire. my friend has a coop that is open on the front to her run and only has a back side and two sides with small spacing between boards where boards shrunk some. she has had no problem yet. what would yall suggest...

 

[Mahonri]

If it gets into the teens I would have them cooped up tight.... and I'd also probably have a light for warmth in the winter... but that's just me.

 

[patandchickens]

I'd wall all 4 sides, honestly, or at least tarp them in a strong nonflapping nondrafty way.

If the temp is at freezing, or worse, in the twenties or teens, and there is a BREEZE, you will have frostbite problems; if it is those temperatures with a breeze and wet snow, or around freezing with wind and cold rain, I would be surprised if you did not start losing chickens altogether.

The cold chickens can stand in dry still air is a LOT different than what happens to them with dampness and wind chill (even just drafts that ruffle their feathers).

JMHO,

Pat