Spring Chickens - We survived winter!

[Yellow Chicken]

Hi, I'm just getting ready to build my chicken coop and am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my buff orpington chicks April 9th. I plan on insulating the chicken house but wonder if that is necessary? I live in Central Texas (where mostly it is hot hot hot) but in the winter, it can drop anywhere between 20-30 at night, but that is not the norm. What temps to chickens normally tolerate? I'm trying to find a happy medium so they aren't sweltering in the summer but not freezing in the winter. Thanks for you advice....

Yellow Chicken

 

[Judy]

My climate is much like yours. It has gotten near 80 for several days, and my tomatoes are planted. Remember that chickens tolerate cold much better than heat. Not only do I not insulate, large parts of two walls are hardware cloth, which I covered with plastic when it got below freezing at night, and I run a fan in the summer. On really cold nights, a light was plenty to avoid frostbite, the only cold problem your chickens might have.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
We insulated our coop with 1/2 inch insulation board. It got down to 12 degrees this winter and the chickens were fine. The waterer didn't even freeze.
We have two large windows in our coop. The one on the north side is 4 ft. high x 8 ft. long and the south side one is 4 ft. high x 5 ft. long. Both windows are covered in hardware cloth and have shutters that I can close on cold nights or in bad weather. I don't even close the shutters unless it's forecast to get below 40 overnight.
In the summer we hung a box fan in front of the north window that creates a nice cross breeze.
I have a breed that is winter hardy and heat tolerant, so that helps; especially in July and August.

 

[digitS']

Katchoo!

The warmest day so far this year has been 47°F but it got cold again. Then yesterday and today, the afternoon temp was back up in the 40's. Unfortunately, today's 41°, or whatever, came with rain and there will be more snow on the ground tomorrow morning.

"It's snowing still," said Eeyore gloomily.
"So it is."
"And freezing."
"Is it?"
"Yes," said Eeyore.

"However," he said brightening up a little, "we haven't had an earthquake lately."

digitS'

 

[CityChook]

Hi digitS - Talked to the Pa today and he was very sad that he could walk across the snow in his backyard because there was so much ice. I think you had a tougher winter than we midwesterners. Not as cold, but definitely more snow. Unbelievable amounts, really. Here's raising a glass to the thaw... cheers!

 

[digitS']

Thank you, CityChook!

One reason I'm here and not somewhere north is that the Winter is about as tuff as I can take it - usually not a lot of snow, seldom sub-zero temps. But, the last 2 years have been memorable.

What darn near kills me every Winter is the lack of sunlight and the lingering nature of the season. After the darn snow and cold . . . I'm suddenly in the Pacific NorthWest gloom!!

However, in Minnesota, your dad and I would be a Popsicles by now and in serious need of your glass of cheer

! Thank you.

Steve
trying not but turning into, a little gray donkey with a pinned-on tail.

 

[gritsar]

Yellowchicken since your climate is probably pretty close to mine, I don't think you'll have any problems. Good ventilation for the summer time was my biggest priority. It helps if you can locate your coop near trees for shade as well.

 

[vermontgal]

Hey! I'm just about to plant tomatoes, too! (Mine will be seeds planted INSIDE.)
I saw the first grass this week, since November. Congrats to all on surviving the winter.

 

[Catalina]

I have a patch of DIRT in my backyard!!!

Yay! First time since Nov. that the backyard isn't covered with snow.

Hmmmm, I swear I cleaned up my yard last fall, but now it's growing some 'interesting' lawn ornaments - rake, bucket, pile of cinder blocks, ect.

It looked better with snow covering it.

 

[CityChook]

I have a big patch of GOOSHY MUD with chicken prints everywhere. Oh my, the snow has only been gone for 1 day and they're ALREADY trashing my lawn...