What do I do for Winter time? I live in a harsh climate?

[chaser430]

I bought a really nice big chicken coop which I can walk in and it has a house in it for the girls and laying boxes. The spring and summer has been awesome for the girls but I am very concerned about the open floor and the open air with the coop in the winters here in PA. It can get downright frigid here and last yr before the big coop I brought the girls inside to the cellar and had them live in hutches for the winter. I feel like an jerk leaving them outside in the freezing cold and snow, but having them in the cellar is messy and time consuming to clean- Any suggestions???
Thanks

 

[Pork Pie]

These links may help

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/winter-chicken-keeping


http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/winter-coop-temperatures

 

[SueT]

Chickens, like wild birds, have down underwear and do just fine in the winter.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

As long as your chickens have a dry, draft-free place to retreat to during the bad weather, they'll be fine.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Any photos of your coop?

 

[TalkALittle]

I live in New England. My girls stay out in the coop year round--even during blizzards.

 

[aart]

but I am very concerned about the open floor and the open air with the coop

So mesh floor and walls?
Pics would really help.

 

[Auntie Moose]

I live in Colorado and my girls are just fine. The only heat we provide is to keep their water from freezing. They like snow! I have a BO, Austrolorp, and an EE.

 

[bekachickenborn]

I a

I bought a really nice big chicken coop which I can walk in and it has a house in it for the girls and laying boxes. The spring and summer has been awesome for the girls but I am very concerned about the open floor and the open air with the coop in the winters here in PA. It can get downright frigid here and last yr before the big coop I brought the girls inside to the cellar and had them live in hutches for the winter. I feel like an jerk leaving them outside in the freezing cold and snow, but having them in the cellar is messy and time consuming to clean- Any suggestions???
Thanks

lso live in

I bought a really nice big chicken coop which I can walk in and it has a house in it for the girls and laying boxes. The spring and summer has been awesome for the girls but I am very concerned about the open floor and the open air with the coop in the winters here in PA. It can get downright frigid here and last yr before the big coop I brought the girls inside to the cellar and had them live in hutches for the winter. I feel like an jerk leaving them outside in the freezing cold and snow, but having them in the cellar is messy and time consuming to clean- Any suggestions???
Thanks

I also live in PA. Two biggest things: 1. Make sure they have thaw water (I use a heated dog dish and check it twice a day) 2. Ventilation (seems counterintuitive but an unventilated coop=moisture =frostbite). A few other things I do...make sure roosts are wide enough so they can sit on their feet at night, when it's dropping well below zero, I coat waddles and combs with Vaseline to minimize frostbite, I also do deep litter method in winter. This helps warm things up because the litter is composting. I've never had a loss/issue in the winter yet. Remember...they are animals. And adapt well. We humans are the wimps. Not them.