Wanting help on how to winterise my coop

[Goober1201]

wow, thanks for all the replies!! I know I was looking into getting a vent fan for the top. I was wondering if its OK to put gravel in there run? Its sooo muddy right now and the smell... OH MY GOODNESS the smell is INSANE!!! Not the coop, just the run.

 

[Lawrosa]

Put sand in the run. Scoop the poop every couple of days with a kitty litter scoop.

I have sand in and out. No smell at all.

Mike NJ

 

[SunnyAlberta]

I brought my three girls home when they were 6 to 12 weeks old and it snowed unexpectedly the next day. My coop is a rabbit hutch conversion, the front completely open hardware cloth, no insulation. In a pinch, I covered the coop with an old wool blanket for insulation and an ugly blue rain tarp went over that at night, when it snowed, or in high winds. Off and on for a month we continued to have wintery weather and they did great with this setup. For this winter I do plan to surround the coop in straw bales for insulation and a wind break. I'll probably keep using my blue tarp, too. I will use the straw as mulch in my garden in the springtime.

 

[BunchaBiddies]

We have pretty cold, harsh winters most years, so I worried about our chickens when we first started. I found out that they don't seem to care about -10 degree temps or 10 feet of snow. Our first coop was an old wood shed, but the hens would roost in the trees and rarely in the shed, even when it was bitter cold. When we moved, they had an aluminum shed which they preferred to roost in...go figure. We left one of the doors open so they could come and go as they pleased. The only thing we do in the winter that is different than the rest of the year, is to provide a heated base for their waterer. We have never had a cold related loss or illness. Chickens are hardy!

As far as the gravel...chickens like to scratch, so like Lawrosa said, maybe sand would be a better option for you and them. Good luck!

 

[Kim95037]

http://www.shopthecoop.com/chickens/He.html

I put one of these in my chicken coop. I hooked it up to a thermostat (that I got from a different web site). Its awesome. I need to put one in my house! Actually I think I'll just move in with my chickens. Their coop is nicer than my house. And they eat better too!

 

[PeepsAreForMe]

wow, thanks! I was so scared. I was being told they were gonna for sure die of the cold in the winder if I don't insulate there coop.

No doubt this was from someone who knows nothing about chickens! I am worried too, come winter in NJ, but I know they will be fine.

 

[PeepsAreForMe]

http://www.shopthecoop.com/chickens/He.html

I put one of these in my chicken coop. I hooked it up to a thermostat (that I got from a different web site). Its awesome. I need to put one in my house! Actually I think I'll just move in with my chickens. Their coop is nicer than my house. And they eat better too!

Oh thanks for this link! I plan on getting something like this. And my chickens will be livin' the good life when my DH is finished with their new coop too! There will definitely be room for a human or two . . .

Goober - check out Sweet PDZ, it is a fine granulated odor controller. It works wonders!!