When to add plastic to outter coop ?

There are two reasons I’m familiar with to put up protection like that, to keep snow out of the run so they have access during the winter and to block cold winds so they will use the run. Mine enjoy a warm breeze but really hate a cold wind blowing on them when they are in the run or out foraging. Mine will forage in below zero Fahrenheit weather as long as it is calm but if the wind is blowing they seek shelter from the wind. I haven’t paid a lot of attention to exactly what temperature they start avoiding a wind. Part of that is how strong the wind is but I’d say they start avoiding a wind probably around freezing.

But you have a different situation. Yours sleep in your run. I’ve seen chickens sleep in trees at zero degrees F, but those were in a protected little valley in a thicket and they could move around the tree trunk to get extra protection from the wind if they needed to. Yours are going to be out on the open with no protection except that plastic. Wind chill depends not only on the temperature but on the wind speed. Humidity is also a factor.

We normally worry about frostbite, not them freezing to death. Frostbite cannot possibly occur until the air temperature drops below freezing, so there is one limit for you. But those chickens sleeping in trees in zero weather did not get frostbite. There are other factors than just temperature involved, including humidity. Those chickens in the trees had great ventilation and did not get frostbite.

I don’t have a hard and fast number for you. What’s wrong with putting it up now? What will it hurt?

 

I usually put mine up at 9pm on the night before the first snow storm! I mean to do it a day ot two sooner, but never get around to it, and end up doing it in the dark, in the cold as the first flakes start coming down!

Since your chickens are choosing to sleep outside, they are not too cold! If they get cold, they will find their way into the coop! As long as you get the plastic up before the first snow, you are good!

 

I live in VA. it all depends on the tempertures.just a couple of days ago it was 80 plus degrees.and today it is cool and the weather forecast is calling for several inches of rain.Last year I only wrap the west side of their runs.that seems to be where most of the blowing rain comes in.they have two coops to hangout in.but they choose to stay out in their covered runs.we staple the plastic on to the runs and than to make sure the plastic stays put.we use a screw gun to attached boards to the top and bottom of the plastic.It will stay put until we remove it in the spring.