What will I need for winter?

[balticgoddess]

Hey, y'all! My husband and I are new to backyard chicken raising. We live in the Cleveland, Ohio area and we're proud to say we have 3 hens in our backyard now! For their home, we have a decent-sized chicken hutch and my husband built a large run and attached it so they have room to walk around and peck.

We've been thinking about the winter months, as they'll be here before we know it - and since we're new to chicken raising, we're not sure what exactly we should do to "winterize" the chickens. We've been thinking about purchasing a better (fully-enclosed) coop for them so that it keeps it a bit warmer for the winter months, but do you think if we have hay/straw in the coop with them, they'll still need additional forms of heat?

We got our hens from Tractor Supply Company during their "Chick Days" this spring, and they couldn't tell us the exact breed we'd be getting. Now that the chicks are full-grown hens, from what I can tell, it looks like we have 1 white leghorn and 2 red sex links. Do you think the three of them will even NEED more heat sources?

I appreciate anyone and everyone's help on this - we're trying to plan and save accordingly so we're prepared! Thanks, again!

 

[JackE]

The chickens will take care of "winterizing" themselves. They do not need any extra heat supplied by us. Like wild birds, they can handle it. As long as they have a coop that gets them out of wind, cold weather is not really a problem to them. And DON'T seal them up in the coop either, chickens need good air exchange (Ventilation) year round. They expel a lot of moisture when breathing, closing them up in a coop in the winter can lead to respiratory problems and even frostbite. Hot weather is really more of a concern than the cold. Check out my coop below, it is uninsulated and unheated, the front is open year round. We get temps into the single digits, and the birds have no problems with it. One thing to worry about in the winter months is keeping then with unfrozen water. The following link fixed that for me: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/107951/cookie-tin-water-heater I use a 40W bulb in mine, it has worked for me the last two winters. Good luck with your chickens and welcome to BYC.
Jack

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

For coops that are more open, I recommend putting plastic sheeting or even feed sacks over the main airy areas. This will keep out drafts. No need to buy a fully enclosed coop. Be sure and leave enough ventilation, though. I recommend that the run be partly covered by a heavy duty tarp or something else so that the chickens can better utilize the run in the winter or anytime the weather is not fare.