what do I do for winter???? PICS ADDED

[newchickowner]

Let me start off by saying that we're broke!!! I'm sure some of you can relate, but my frustrations lie in the fact that I've been trying to get my b/f to do SOMETHING!!!! for a few months now and I'm getting no where! I'm so angry, I found a small tool shed I could modify that would be perfect, it wouldn't have cost too much $700 total maybe, but now he's telling me he doesn't want to do that (I think he's just being lazy) and I suggested buying straw or hay bales and stacking in a box shape to provide insulation, I could do that myself and wouldn't need his help, of course he doesn't want that either. I'm so stinkin' ticked at him right now...it was chilly last night and winter is coming!!!

He thinks they will be just fine with nothing.

What do ya'll think???? I live in the Dallas area, I've only been here through one winter, and I think it was way too cold to not protect them in some way. Does anyone have any suggestions I could try that is cheap??? Please help!

 

[peeps7]

You could get some rolls of plastic and put them at the top of the coop and then roll them down when it gets cold.(BIG PLASTIC, NOT GLAD

)

 

[justusnak]

You can go to the local stores/factories, and get pallets. Nail them together, 3 sides...stuf straw in the slats, to stop the wind..and cover with a piece of plywood. Make sure this roof is at an angle...so rain will run off....towards the back. Put a good layer of straw inside for them to snuggle into. Very cheap, and will work in a pinch. Good luck....hope you can get them some sort of cover soon.

 

[jab91864]

I agree scrap pallets and wood can be made into an affordable shelter, add straw and you are good to go.

Good luck !!!

Julie

 

[newchickowner]

Like the stuff professional painters put down on the carpet before they start painting???

See I don't have a problem with the bales of hay or straw stacked up, I grew up on a horse farm and we always had a huge stack of hay in the barn. I just think he's being a jerk. I'm thinking about doing the hay thing anyway! I could stick 2x4x8 between bales to make roosts, and they already have nest boxes that I'll put right on top of a bale. Right now they stay in a 10x10x8(tall) chain link dog kennel. I'd stack the hay inside around the walls and for the top I'd get a gate or two for support, throw on a tarp, stack the hay on top of that so melting ice or rain doesn't leak through the bales. Doesn't that sound fine???

Phew!! you guys are fast, when I posted my last reply, two more comments popped up, thanks for the suggestions ladies. I may try the pallet thing, at least I can make it smaller and out of sight. Maybe he'll not say anything if he can't see it.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I like justusnak suggestion...or the bales of straw would be better than haybales if you want to do it the way your post read...hay would rot quicker....I would get a cheap tarp to cover it all with tho to help keep rain off....and might help more with wind...

Their wooden pallets...made of wood...we have them here at the feedstores alot and they are free for the asking I'm sure....One of the gals from TX uses pallets that ski-jets come in and makes pens from....

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Take the money that you would be using to feed, cloth and house him and use it to get you a good coop.

He might get the point then.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Now that will work!

You have lots of good sugestions here ...since your in TX those will work fine til you can get something more permanent for them...

 

[newchickowner]

thanks everyone for the suggestions!!! I'm going out right now to find out who carries straw bales. The feed store that I normally buy my animal feed from doesn't.

 

[texaschickmama]

Hey, Texas, this is Texas too. Well, last winter here it was unusually cold. I can't even remember how many times we saw snow. Maybe 5 or 6. Listen, if you watch on craigslist they always have sheds on there, some are even free. There is a lot of useable stuff on craigslist that could help you out. Good luck.

I have seen square bales around here in the fields for $4.00 a bale.