sn0wwhite's Wichita Coop for the Twin Cities

[Bogtown Chick]

Oh gosh...I remember going through this last winter. Trying to decide what would work for warmth. I dabbled with 75 watt black light bulbs for 0 or less and then when it was -20 the brooder bulb. It always scared me to use that thing though. I'd say little prayers before getting up out of bed in the am and I'd look and thankfully the coop was still there. Looking back I decided that they were all fine probably without it. And my efforts were probably just busy work for myself. They roosted alot during the cold snaps and that's what they'll do to get through it. The only time I saw my birds use the red lamp to warm under was at -25 F. So if that helps you with any decisions on what to do there.

One tip for you: I found this nice little company out of Iowa called Premier 1 Supplies. They have a hard plastic--sort of tough high end heat lamp for lambing. It's larger than what I thought it would be but at any rate: It's a $30 Lamp ($10) for shipping and I'm going to use that this winter on those nasty colder nights. If you use those metal brooder type ones: double triple secure at 2 or 3 different points of the lamp. Then take some chicken wire and put it around the lamp so if the socket and bulb slip from the frame work of the lamp (which is usually their fail) it won't fall away from the lamp and into the bedding. I always try to strategically put it where fluttering wings won't bang it around too. Keeping out of wings' reach is a good thing.

 

[sn0wwhite]

They were huddling just a little in the run this morning, but Florentine (former rooster) did still lay an egg. I think the huddling was because they went from about 20 degrees to zero and it really would have been better to just let them be.

The good news is that there is ZERO evidence of frost anywhere, so I think my ventilation must be ok. I may cover the top 18 inches of the run I left open though with that extra piece I was thinking about.

And although they want to get out of the run, they do NOT like snow on their feet. They only walk where it's been shoveled.

 

[sn0wwhite]

I added a heat lamp to the run today. 3 of them seem fine in the cold, and Sunny and Florentine are still laying eggs, but my EE Benedict seemed very distressed by the -11 morning. It's just hanging over the sand in a spot and I figure if they want to huddle under it they can. I think all it's done is taken the temperature from -11 to maybe around 0. Not enough to make a big difference or change their acclimation from the cold, but maybe just a bit more comfortable for their feet.

 

[chickiegrrl]

Poor Benedict! It was wicked last night and this morning!! I went out at 6:30 to take the girls' water and food to them. It was -19. The girls didn't come out of the coop until after 8, they're usually out right when the sun comes up. Flora, our 'Lorp, was having problems walking on the sand at one point this afternoon. She'd take 2-3 steps, then crouch down on her feet. Finally she made her way to the roost, hopped up, and crouched on her feet. Their combs and wattles look ok. I was surprised how warm the coop was, though. It stayed consistently 20 degrees above the outdoor temp. Tilly, our EE was so smart, she spent a lot of time in the coop taking shaving baths and picking in the shavings. I'm thinking of picking up a bale of straw for them to pick around in and stand on. I can sift it out of the sand as it gets dirty, but I think it will help keep their feet warmer than plain sand.

So, did you notice your girls going to the heat lamp for relief from the cold?

 

[aart]

Poor Benedict! It was wicked last night and this morning!! I went out at 6:30 to take the girls' water and food to them. It was -19. The girls didn't come out of the coop until after 8, they're usually out right when the sun comes up. Flora, our 'Lorp, was having problems walking on the sand at one point this afternoon. She'd take 2-3 steps, then crouch down on her feet. Finally she made her way to the roost, hopped up, and crouched on her feet. Their combs and wattles look ok. I was surprised how warm the coop was, though. It stayed consistently 20 degrees above the outdoor temp. Tilly, our EE was so smart, she spent a lot of time in the coop taking shaving baths and picking in the shavings. I'm thinking of picking up a bale of straw for them to pick around in and stand on. I can sift it out of the sand as it gets dirty, but I think it will help keep their feet warmer than plain sand.

So, did you notice your girls going to the heat lamp for relief from the cold?

Do you have a heat lamp in your coop? Lots of ventilation? Would think that the ventilation would negate a heat lamp warming anything other than the immediate area it shines on.

I added a heat lamp to the run today. 3 of them seem fine in the cold, and Sunny and Florentine are still laying eggs, but my EE Benedict seemed very distressed by the -11 morning. It's just hanging over the sand in a spot and I figure if they want to huddle under it they can. I think all it's done is taken the temperature from -11 to maybe around 0. Not enough to make a big difference or change their acclimation from the cold, but maybe just a bit more comfortable for their feet.

Am not going to comlain about the 15 above here.

Curious too if they huddled under the heat lamp.

I would think that the sand would be cold....would be interesting to set up a tray of shavings and see if they prefer it.

Switched puppy pads to sand in the brooder yesterday, they seemed reluctant to settle their little bodies on it at first.

 

[sn0wwhite]

The heat lamp was actually in the run... hanging just so that it could make a warm spot right by the part that goes under the house. That front left corner is on the north and west side, but probably gets the most sun and I suspect with heat rising, the lower ceiling height kept their warmth closer to them instead of rising up and out through the ventilation.

The larger three, the BO, BA & SLW really seemed fine, it was just the EE that did not seem ok. She just huddled in the corner and made crying noises and didn't even come over to the food.

The sand is cold I'm sure, but at these temperatures everything is cold. They could go inside to their house if they wanted to, but only the two laying went in to lay eggs then came back out again.

They didn't really huddle under the lamp, and in fact the other 3 kept moving around like normal. I do have a little 2x4 roost under there that is just about 3 inches off the ground. They roost on that and that's where Benedict stayed for most of the day. She eventually started moving around, but she stayed pretty close to the warm area and then I put her to bed when I turned the lamp off last night.

The super cold did mess with the ADOR1 door again though... It didn't want to close last night so I had to close it by hand. But 0 degrees this morning feels better and everyone seems fine and back to normal.

So, bottom line is I think the 3 bigger can handle it and could probably make it to even colder temps, but not the EE yet. Husband suggested I just bring her in to watch TV, but I know that would only make it worse when she'd have to go back outside again.

 

[skunknchatter]

Just spent a bit of time reading this build thread. Your coop turned out beautiful!

 

[Sam3 Abq]

Do you have a heat lamp in your coop? Lots of ventilation? Would think that the ventilation would negate a heat lamp warming anything other than the immediate area it shines on.


Am not going to comlain about the 15 above here.

Curious too if they huddled under the heat lamp.

I would think that the sand would be cold....would be interesting to set up a tray of shavings and see if they prefer it.

Switched puppy pads to sand in the brooder yesterday, they seemed reluctant to settle their little bodies on it at first.

Would like to hear about your sand in the brooder - that is my plan for my 1st flock in the spring.
~Sam

 

[chickiegrrl]

Do you have a heat lamp in your coop? Lots of ventilation? Would think that the ventilation would negate a heat lamp warming anything other than the immediate area it shines on.

aart - We don't have a heat lamp in our coop, it's pretty small and well insulated. Plus, up to today it's been sunny. The coop is painted barn red and it helps to absorb heat. It also has a south-facing window to let in light/heat. Today it's not 20 degrees warmer in the coop because it's cloudy and snowing, but it is 10 degrees warmer. The girls were unhappy in the run again today. The sand is too cold. I added some more shavings to the coop and threw some mealworms and a bit of scratch in there for the girls to pick at. I figured it would give them some activity and keep their footies warm while they turn the shavings.

We do have good ventilation. I partially blocked the vent to the north so the cold wind wouldn't blow in, but there is no frost in the coop and the girls' combs and wattles look good so I don't think the partially blocked vent is a problem right now. When it warms up, I'll open it up again.

 

[aart]

Would like to hear about your sand in the brooder - that is my plan for my 1st flock in the spring.
~Sam

Don't want to highjack sn0's thread but, I did lots of searching and reading on BYC about using sand in brooder and found it wasn't a detriment to the chicks after they learn to eat food and not bedding. Tho some sand eating is not bad, it's grit and broody hen raised chicks take them out on dirt. It's easier to clean, I already sift roost boards in the coop, I added some PDZ too for odor control.

aart - We don't have a heat lamp in our coop, it's pretty small and well insulated. Plus, up to today it's been sunny. The coop is painted barn red and it helps to absorb heat. It also has a south-facing window to let in light/heat. Today it's not 20 degrees warmer in the coop because it's cloudy and snowing, but it is 10 degrees warmer. The girls were unhappy in the run again today. The sand is too cold. I added some more shavings to the coop and threw some mealworms and a bit of scratch in there for the girls to pick at. I figured it would give them some activity and keep their footies warm while they turn the shavings.

We do have good ventilation. I partially blocked the vent to the north so the cold wind wouldn't blow in, but there is no frost in the coop and the girls' combs and wattles look good so I don't think the partially blocked vent is a problem right now. When it warms up, I'll open it up again.

Thanks! I think everything IS cold like sn0 said, but I think cold sand can suck the heat out of ya...I remember this from camping...lol.