Surviving Minnesota!

[NewbieMN]

@NewbieMN Welcome to our thread

Take all of this with a grain of salt, it is just what works for me.

In a coop that size, I would go buy some sweet PDZ from Tractor Supply. Place in on the floor under the pine shavings (poor it right on top if they are already in there, it will fall through), an inch or 2 deep, this will help remove some of the moisture from their small coop.

Make sure all the ventilation is high so that it doesn't go over them from low to high, as in through a chicken door (mine got frostbite due to that).

Put heavy clear plastic around their run to block the wind and increase their living area in the winter, they will spend more time in the run decreasing moisture inside. Also, the plastic it keeps the moisture out of their run (snow and rain in the fall) and you will not have to shovel it out.

If you want to, you can place a flat panel heater, I have a cozylegs heater, (now they make them for coops). I only turn it on when it is below zero, it just takes some of the edge off and seems to keep it drier in there (my henhouse is 4x6 or so). A couple of years ago it was -34F outside, with the flat panel heater it was 7F

Water outside in the run is good.

Block off any vents on the north and south sides (north for sure), I only have vents on the east and west, high up, in the winter. My henhouse is taller (I can stand up in it so about 5.5 feet). so I place a green house panel above their roost to keep their warmth in, but it lets moisture out up through the vents. you probably don't have room for that though. you can see my coop and henhouse if you click on "My coop" under my photo.

My 0rpington and Golden Comet got frostbite on their combs the first year before I learned any of this. . I think I will only get birds with small combs from now on though, as I felt so bad. My EE and SLW's were fine...

Welcome, and good luck!

Thank you. Good point about covering the north side too....something to consider.

 

[holm25]

Welcome @NewbieMN . Glad you join this great thread and website!

 

[NewbieMN]

Good idea, as long as your Styrofoam boards are covered because chickens will eat styrfoam if they can get to it. Probably not a healthy treat
And welcome

Yikes ! Yeah I was thinking of what to cover with- duct tape maybe. I may have a piece if wood somewhere too. Thank you.

 

[NewbieMN]

Welcome @NewbieMN . Glad you join this great thread and website!

Thank you. I'm really glad I did. The feedback and support is helping a ton.

 

[jerryse]

Morning . Coffee at home for awhile . Too many people with colds at the restaurant .So I discovered yesterday that I can now get up from kneeling without something to grab onto . Walking is slightly improved also .

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Banty in this cold my birds will have the frost from their breathing in on the wing tucks too.

I know ivie had trouble with condensation on an uninsulated roof and her birds getting wet after it dripped on them . I just imagined it being cold enough it would turn to a frost and fall when heavy enough.
But I also think this winter is more of a beast to fight here too. Relative humidity could be up here.

 

[duluthralphie]

Yep, I agree

 

[BantyChooks]

Yikes ! Yeah I was thinking of what to cover with- duct tape maybe. I may have a piece if wood somewhere too. Thank you.

Doubt that would work. I've found that duck tape freezes and falls off quickly in cold weather.

 

[BantyChooks]

Banty in this cold my birds will have the frost from their breathing in on the wing tucks too.

I know ivie had trouble with condensation on an uninsulated roof and her birds getting wet after it dripped on them . I just imagined it being cold enough it would turn to a frost and fall when heavy enough.
But I also think this winter is more of a beast to fight here too. Relative humidity could be up here.

The odd thing is that I have been getting it ever since it first dipped below 0F, and I haven't seen it even in -40 in past winters... am really kicking myself for not paying attention to past ambient humidity levels.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Old coop maybe not built as tight as this one?

I think there is something to be said about old barns and coops. Dry wood? Idk...

Juniors wattles looks look bad but he is able to close his beak.

I’m getting a new refrigerator delivered any minute here. Getting sick of coolers on my deck. It’s been 11 days and a big Christmas Eve party. I’m getting skinny making multiple trips to the cooler. Back and forth. And with -30 I’d rather keep my layers.