Raising Chickens In Upstate NY.. Temp Questions?

[tanyizzle]

We're in the process of designing/building a coop that will be located in upstate NY (Capital Region Area). In the winter it can get quite cold (sub-zero on the coldest nights in the winter). Do coops require insulation in climates such as this? Does a heater inside on a thermostat suffice? Both? I'd really appreciate some general thoughts design tips/advice from some people who have gone through the winter before regarding what they've learned in the past. Thanks in advance!

-Tanya

 

[elmo]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

Here's an excellent page of advice on just the subject you're asking about (from somone who deals with northern winters in Canada, too):

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-winter-coop-temperatures

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

Hi!
Just make sure you have lots of ventilation, there's a lot of good resources on this website about that. I have a non-insulated, non-heated coop. This was my first winter with my girls and they did very well. I made sure the run stayed dry and covered and gave them extra bedding in the coop for warmth. I figured it was better for them to get used to the colder temps that way if we got that cold snap below zero it wasn't so bad. Their bodies can keep a small area pretty warm!
Have fun!

 

[featherz]

I live in upstate NY (saratoga county, hi neighbor!) .. All my chickens did fine last winter in uninsulated coops with no heat and plenty of ventilation. That included my white leghorns, who got by with just a bit of frostbite and several young bantams. I was amazed!

 

[Bengalcats1]

Quote:
Im also in your area and don't use heat or insulation, on very RARE occasion I might put a heat lamp on them, but this past winter with all that snow and cold I never used it and they were all fine, and I have all bantams. As long as you close everything up good at night and maybe on those below zero days they will be fine.

 

[bufforp89]

Im in NY and I raise all my birds with out heat in uninsulated coops. I may occasionally use a heatlamp with some of the tiny bantams but it has to be below 0....Mine have always been fine and I have never lost one to the cold. Just a few comb tips! I do have all winter hardy breeds though, no leghorns or other breeds like that here.

 

[PortageGirl]

X2 about no need for heat, X20 about not skimping on the ventilation. They don't need heat, just shelter, a dry place to sleep and protection from predators. Actually having it too warm will make them more susceptible to illness, and stuffy and damp will kill them. Chickens produce moisture as you'll read in that link elmo gave you and many more.

 

[woodmort]

I'm a little south and west of you in the western edge of the Catskills where we get a little colder and my birds have survived 26 winters in a coop which is partially insulated--half the celling and one wall only because when I built it I had insulation sitting around--but well ventilated. Never used heat, never lost a bird to cold and if there was any frostbite it was gotten when the birds were outside. I was born in Albany and grew up 40 miles south of there--never had a problem with chickens as a kid either.

 

[minichic]

Quote:
Im also in your area and don't use heat or insulation, on very RARE occasion I might put a heat lamp on them, but this past winter with all that snow and cold I never used it and they were all fine, and I have all bantams. As long as you close everything up good at night and maybe on those below zero days they will be fine.

Hi Neighbor - Greetings from Ballston Lake! Haven't wintered chickens yet (my first year) but wanted to say HI and that I also have bengal cats - one rosetted girl and one marble girl. Super cool cats.

 

[tanyizzle]

We're in Saratoga country as well, in Halfmoon. As far as ventilation does simply having vents/windows suffice or are fans recommended? Maybe I'm over thinking the technical aspects of this chicken thing having just done a bunch of hydroponic stuff haha.