Warming Up Your Coop

[CT Coop]

I'm a bit late, because this brutal cold is almost over, but wanted to share an idea. Several years ago our coops were inundated with Starlings during the cold winters....500+ pooping in the coops and waterers, which was horrid. So, we put up clear shower curtains and it solved the problem. We cut slits every 4" in the bottom about 6" high so the flock learned quickly to come and go, but the starlings didn't. We haven't had the issue since. We only put the curtains up in the winter and the side benefit of having a cleaner coop is having a warmer coop. With these shower curtains our coops have been 5-10 degrees warmer depending on which way the wind is blowing. The heavy duty curtains are only ~$7 each and last 1 or 2 winters. In these temps any added warmth is a blessing

 

[N F C]

Sounds like a good idea!

How did you anchor the curtains to the coop? We get a lot of wind here and I know the girls wouldn't appreciate anything flapping at them.

 

[CT Coop]

They are hung on a shower curtain rod, but I have a roost only about a foot from the door, so when the curtain blows it is stopped by the pole. They still roost on that pole, so it doesn't seem to bother them. Probably more importantly, the coops face south and the doors are on the west, so the wind doesn't normally blow into the coop.

 

[keeper 1960]

i put a 5 gal. bucket in the coop, the water is 130 -140 deg. seems to help in this cold weather.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

i put a 5 gal. bucket in the coop, the water is 130 -140 deg. seems to help in this cold weather.

Be careful.....warm water raises humidity, which is what you want to avoid in frigid weather. Chickens are more prone to frostbite if the coop isn’t dry or well ventilated.

 

[aart]

i put a 5 gal. bucket in the coop, the water is 130 -140 deg. seems to help in this cold weather.

Water that hot coming out of your water heater?
....or is there a heater in the bucket of water?
Lid on bucket to prevent evaporation...and drowning?

 

[keeper 1960]

Water that hot coming out of your water heater?
....or is there a heater in the bucket of water?
Lid on bucket to prevent evaporation...and drowning?

yes there is a lid on. wood boiler is 190 deg.