Trying to get ideas for winter for our coop

[woodenfarm]

We just moved our lovely ten ladies from a small coop to a bigger area and more shade run for them. Our summer as been so hot and humid in TN.

We have a barn that has stables that are not in use. We took one stable cleaned out, put up nesting boxes, made a perch for them and cutout a opening for them in the door to go to their run.
Trying to get a few ideas on what to do for winter time for them. It does have electricity to it we just have to have it turned back on not an issue.
Headlamps, need to block off the upper openings more ect...... any advice would be great.
Pictures below

 

[rjohns39]

Mine spend the winter in green houses with deep bedding.

 

[B Redhawk]

The biggest issue we have in the south is the wind. When you couple wind with our humidity, even in winter, you can get a bone chilling situation. I would try to come up with some sort of wind barrier for winter. I would also think about using 1/2 inch mesh wire, as heavy a gauge as you can find, to cover the openings of the stall and perhaps an automatic door or at least a pop door for the chickens to use so you can shut them in at night with good security for their well being. Our biggest problem is raccoons and I have had to make sure there is no way they can get to our chickens during the night. Other than those two items, I am envious of your set up, wish I had a barn like that for our chickens. Maybe some day I can get one built.

 

[woodenfarm]

The biggest issue we have in the south is the wind. When you couple wind with our humidity, even in winter, you can get a bone chilling situation. I would try to come up with some sort of wind barrier for winter. I would also think about using 1/2 inch mesh wire, as heavy a gauge as you can find, to cover the openings of the stall and perhaps an automatic door or at least a pop door for the chickens to use so you can shut them in at night with good security for their well being. Our biggest problem is raccoons and I have had to make sure there is no way they can get to our chickens during the night. Other than those two items, I am envious of your set up, wish I had a barn like that for our chickens. Maybe some day I can get one built.

We have been lucky there is a ground hog that lives under the other side of the barn but doesn't seem to mind his new friends.
The first night was rough they was scared and didn't like the wood pallet we tried for a perch. So I had to take them 2x2 back to the coop we had there was no wire over the run and they calmed down a ton after we put that up the next day. That night we had to carry five hens in to the new perch and let them know it was safe and they have been very good at putting themselves to bed before the sun goes down this week.

I wanted to do this all along but hubby didn't see the picture (being away with military for a year) till after my father in law and I built a beautiful coop but the poor girls had no shade and needed more run room. When it came time to putting fence post in the ground he did one and said hey what you think about this idea...... men right

We are hoping to sometime more it and add to the other side of the run or use it for new baby chicks next spring if we buy more

 

[flyin-lowe]

I'm north of you a good ways and am assuming our winters are worse then yours. My eaves are open, I have a ridge vent and 4 windows and all stay open all year around. As longs as the wind is not blowing directly on them at night most breads will have no problems with Tennessee winters. We had some below zero nights with -30 wind chills. I saw no frostbite or any other ill affects.