Small coop, tiny flock, winter solution

[Li'lFlock]

I posted here about winterizing a few moths back. Got overly excited and purchased my first chicks in spring. Made a small coop/run for the 3 with scraps. The roof was open hardware cloth with scrap vinyl for rain protection (1st photo of it in the making). I added a roof for the winter around September when I posted my question before. Left openings for ventilation. But concerned about cold weather and a small flock generating enough heat, I cut some makeshift covers for the openings. Got yelled at - not really, just educated. So I took them off. Openings planned for east/west exposure with completely open south facing door out of coop into small run.

Well, 30*F is upon us as of last night. Thermometer read the girls brought it up by 4* when I checked in the morning before they were up and about. Also of concern was snow blowing in, when those times come. In addition, due to size the ventilation was about an inch over their heads. Not direct draft, but I felt pretty darn close.

So I’ve brainstormed and hopefully have found a solution to keep the ventilation and ease up on potential drafts and blowing snow.

Rather than tacking the boards directly over the openings and covering them up in a wonky gappy way hoping for enough airflow - I sandwiched 2x4s between the ends of the makeshift boards and coop. The exact same openings remain, but I’ve basically made a windbreaker in front of them instead of sealing them up. Going to watch their temp and humidity tonight to see if either increases or not. But at least I feel I’m keeping it open, yet more protected.

Thoughts on this being an acceptable solution until we build anew for spring (and cough,cough, chicken math)?

 

[Li'lFlock]

Well, as of last night, I think this was a good thing. The girls only warmed it up an extra 3*. But based on the weather station reading and comparative current reads, it was actually drier than outside! So it must’ve felt warmer. Everything was dewy outside this morning. And I think the added overhangs helped keep that from flowing in. Felt around the ceiling and walls and didn’t feel any condensation. Now I just need to stop worrying and remind myself there are people further north in Canada that don’t heart or insulate their coops...

 

[aart]

That should work,
better roof and an outer vent baffle is a good solution for a tiny coop.

Not sure why you are measuring temp inside vs out....
...humidity inside vs out is more important.
Should never be more humid inside coop than it is outside
tho that may vary from morning to evening as will temps.

 

[Li'lFlock]

I was just curious what 3 birds would do temp wise in the small space. I’ve read somewhere that a full sized chicken puts out the equivalent of a 10watt bulb in heat energy. I found that an amusing calculation. Wondered how much heat they could generate and retain overnight in this little space. Of course there are so many variables, but it seems each chook adds one degree to this particular environment while at rest. A different form of chicken math

So far they seem pretty darn content still. I’m really interested to see how they respond to snow. They don’t care about rain unless it’s a downpour. They run around when I let them out all over in rain and mist but voice their annoyance at heavy rains. They have several places to run and stay dry, but I think they feel trapped and want to explore. And as of now, the coop is still dryer than outside readings. I feel like the bedding is helping that. Currently using shavings with straw on top. DE sprinkled in. Their droppings tend to dry up quickly. And even with several really wet days in a row, the bedding seems pretty darn dry.

 

[chickens really]

I use vapour barrier plastic on my Run in winter..It blocks the wind snow from coming in..I have a tarp on the top all year around...You could stack straw bales around the sides of the coop for better insulation as long as vents are still open...
Best of luck...

 

[aart]

Always wondered if that heat generated makes it out from under their feathers tho.

Anyways....do they have a run that is weather(wind/rain/snow) protected?
Where are you located....put it in your profile?

 

[chickens really]

Always wondered if that heat generated makes it out from under their feathers tho.

Anyways....do they have a run that is weather(wind/rain/snow) protected?
Where are you located....put it in your profile?

I was told that is why they will fluff themselves out and flap their wings...If too warm they let out the heat...

 

[Li'lFlock]

Always wondered if that heat generated makes it out from under their feathers tho.

Anyways....do they have a run that is weather(wind/rain/snow) protected?
Where are you located....put it in your profile?

I imagine some of it escapes, especially from the areas without feathers on their heads, combs, ears, wattles...

The run is that small area under the coop in the first photo. I’ve positioned the whole thing near my garage. So they have additional windbreak from that. The garage is higher than the rest of the property, so they’ll be in sort of a nice little nook. I wrapped the top and front half of the west side of the run with a heavy duty clear tarp so they can still get sun and a wind barrier. The back half of the west side and north side are covered by a doubled up medium duty tarp. If it gets super crazy I have cheap tarps and plastic I can cover the west side with.

When I free range them (think of anytime school isn’t in session) they run for cover from winds and heavy rains usually under my back porch. I have a stoarage container wedged just right under the stairs to act as a windbreak under the porch too. Or they hide in the garage. I made a small enclosure and cut a pop door for them to access it from the yard. I’ve encouraged them to use it to get used to it. If we have polar vortex weeks of -40F, I plan to scoop them up and house them in there overnight with an oil raidiater heater, outside of the pen, just warm enough to prevent frostbite. No vehicles go in that garage. It’s more of a shed.