When to move chicks to coop- in Michigan

[FnWeirdo]

I'm worried about the ventilation.. we are just using an added on section of our detached storage garage.. I'm not sure how to determine if it will be well ventilated, and if it's not how will I know and how would I fix it? I'm a huge worry wart. I've got 3 buff orpington, 3 cinnamon queen, and 4 barred rock. Would it be silly to keep a heat source in there even if it's not really needed?

in regards to ventilation, you want some vents up high ( the higher the better) as you don't want that winter wind blowing a draft in. ace hardware sells face plate vents( not what there called sorry but name escapes me) for something like 75 cents each i have 2. cut a hole slightly smaller then the face and 2 screws nice easy solution. also lot of info on this in the coop section for your worrying browsing needs XD (if your like me).

in regards to the heat source. with your chicks being young like my new additions its not a bad idea. ill be throwing a heat lamp in mine this winter. ill be using a ceramic bulb ( no light just heat , doesn't screw up their day/night cycle) with a thermostat hooked in so it will only kick in at a temp of my choosing.

the main reason i see people heating coops is either extreme colds or because you want more eggs in the winter. when a chicken has to use its caloric intake to keep warm thats what its body is gonna concentrate on.. warmth. but if you supplement it and keep it above just above freezing you'll get more eggs. dietary needs in winter aside I'm just speaking of the heat part

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm not sure how to determine if it will be well ventilated, and if it's not how will I know and how would I fix it? I'm a huge worry wart. I've got 3 buff orpington, 3 cinnamon queen, and 4 barred rock. Would it be silly to keep a heat source in there even if it's not really needed?

General ventilation rules: 1 sq ft of vent per chicken or 10% of coop floor space, whichever is greater. I went overboard and have more than double that, not including either human or pop doors. I have 5 windows, 2 floor vents, a gable vent, under eaves vent holes on 2 sides, and a ridge vent.

Chickens can handle below freezing temperatures as long as they're dry and draft free, which is why well placed, sufficient ventilation is important. A heat source might sound comfy to you, but it may make it harder for the birds to adapt to the cold as go in and out of the coop, much like how it feels a lot colder than it is when you leave a warm house and go out in the cold.

 

[wyoDreamer]

One other thing to think about regarding adding heat to a coop - what happens when the power goes out during an ice storm? We had that twice last winter, and I never had to worry about the chickens because they didn't have a heated coop, they were used to the cold.
I got chicks late August last year, my thinking was that they would supplement the older birds during the winter because I had been told that the older birds would slow down during the cold. Not so, once the pullets all started to lay I was getting 10 or 11 eggs per day, all winter long. We had happy friends, lol.
Of course, since I have a concrete vault for a coop I have to have supplemental light - the light comes on at 6:30 am - 8 am and then dusk to 8:30 pm.

If you see frost forming on the inside walls of your coop, you need more ventilation. Ventilation is to remove the warm humid air that the chickens are exhaling as well as the moisture and ammonia from their poops.

 

[cmom]

you can use hay in your coop as a litter but hay breeds bacteria and such. when your using it as a litter you'll be cleaning it turning it and ect. stacking them means stationary, they absorb all the moisture and make a breeding ground sitting still in stacks which is why i stack them on the outside. about the cold, yes chickens handle the cold very well, insulated coop with no drafts and plenty of ventilation and they will be very cozy and warm together. each chicken will generate a good amount of heat and they all squeeze together on there roost to keep a good heat bubble. you do need to watch the combs and feet though. chickens can do well in freezing weather as well as long as its a cold hardy breed.
edit-
the most important thing in winter is a dry well ventilated no draft coop

 

[Chickadooo]

One other thing to think about regarding adding heat to a coop - what happens when the power goes out during an ice storm? We had that twice last winter, and I never had to worry about the chickens because they didn't have a heated coop, they were used to the cold.
I got chicks late August last year, my thinking was that they would supplement the older birds during the winter because I had been told that the older birds would slow down during the cold. Not so, once the pullets all started to lay I was getting 10 or 11 eggs per day, all winter long. We had happy friends, lol.
Of course, since I have a concrete vault for a coop I have to have supplemental light - the light comes on at 6:30 am - 8 am and then dusk to 8:30 pm.

If you see frost forming on the inside walls of your coop, you need more ventilation. Ventilation is to remove the warm humid air that the chickens are exhaling as well as the moisture and ammonia from their poops.

I should probably just post pictures but maybe I can explain it well.. The coop is about 112 sq foot, connected to my detached garage which at the moment has an opening the size of a double door, we planned to block that off to enclose the coop from the rest of the garage. Would it be wise to board that up but keep 6 inches open at the top for some ventilation into the rest of the garage since there is only one window and one small vent in the roof of the coop? Im quite worried about the ventilation but then I keep reminding myself that I only have 10 chicks and so much space so maybe the ventilation wont be a problem? Ugh. So many worries. lol

 

[wyoDreamer]

It may be best to cut in some vents in the coop walls that go to the outside, up at the top of the outside wall would be best. Are the walls insulated/finished or are they just stud walls. It is not too hard to cut a couple of vents in a stud wall up by the roofline.
What is the predominate wind direction during the winter? if you know, try not to put vents on that wall as that may cause a draft problem with the wind screaming in through the vents. I would try to put the vents in the wall opposite. For example, if the predominate wind is from the West, try to put the vents on the East side of the coop.

You really don't want exhaust from the vehicles to get into the coop and all the dust and ick from the chickens to get into the garage. That may be a nice place to put a people access door though. Then you can store the metal bins of food and such right there in the garage by the door. And no shoveling to the doorway to get chicken chores done.

 

[Chickadooo]

It may be best to cut in some vents in the coop walls that go to the outside, up at the top of the outside wall would be best. Are the walls insulated/finished or are they just stud walls. It is not too hard to cut a couple of vents in a stud wall up by the roofline.
What is the predominate wind direction during the winter? if you know, try not to put vents on that wall as that may cause a draft problem with the wind screaming in through the vents. I would try to put the vents in the wall opposite. For example, if the predominate wind is from the West, try to put the vents on the East side of the coop.

You really don't want exhaust from the vehicles to get into the coop and all the dust and ick from the chickens to get into the garage. That may be a nice place to put a people access door though. Then you can store the metal bins of food and such right there in the garage by the door. And no shoveling to the doorway to get chicken chores done.

I should have mentioned that its a large storage garage- we dont keep vehicles in it. I like the tip about the access door and storing food and whatnot. Im not sure about the wind, maybe we can do some research and put in some vents. my hubby is a do it all kind of guy so that is helpful!!!

 

[FnWeirdo]

couple vents at the top should be good. wyodreamer mentioned placement of vents according to wind. in mi we have very cold winds coming from the north. so def don't put vents on the north side. my coops back wall is to the north front door to south and windows east and west with my vents on the front south wall on the over hang above the door. if that helps any

 

[cmom]

I love pictures. These are some pictures of my coops and pens. We put new metal roofs over all of the coops and some of the coops we put metal siding on too. It's a work in progress. Will do more work on them when the weather gets a bit cooler. Good luck and have fun...

 

[EngeFamilyFarms]

My chicks are 1 week old and 2.5 weeks old. Right now it's still hot during the day, today was 87. They are set up in a brooder in my garage. 1) I'm wondering how old they need to be before I move them out to their coop. 2)Does anyone else keep their chicks in a garage? 3)What's your setup like? I'm just using a big box lined with newspaper and LOTS of pine shavings. 4)Will this be good enough until it's time to move out to coop?

Thank you in advance!

Where in Michigan do you live? We live in Grand Rapids and raised our birds in the garage. I would recommend raising them in the coop. Our garage gets too hot in the summer and we have to run a window ac unit. Just raise em in the coop until they are 3-4 weeks old and are feathering our nicely. Let them out for a bit and back in the coop with a heat lamp for the night. Hope this helps!