Will they be warm enough?

[PirateGirl]

It's ok. You are here to for advice on how to best get your flock through winter, working with the setup you have. It sounds as if the coop itself is well constructed and you have covered your bases there. I would focus on making the run area more appealing in winter. This way you are maximizing the space your birds have to mingle and go about their day. This will also spread out their waste so you don't have as much poop/moisture build up in the coop. It's great that the house blocks the weather on one whole side of the run. Pay attention to what direction the wind typically comes from. Make a wind block on that side. My birds particularly like the sheltered area under the coop in winter as less snow gathers there. I like to use plywood to block off the under coop area in winter for them, you could just screw a panel into the coop legs from the outside and remove it again in summer. I can't tell if your run is covered at all, but covering at least some of it will help mitigate snow in the run and make it more appealing as well. Also perches and ways for them to get off the ground and warm up their feet are good.

 

[PirateGirl]

Also as others mentioned, chickens poop a lot at night. Frequent cleanings under the roost area will help keep their air quality good in winter. You don't have to deep clean everything. I just take a dustpan and scoop from under the roost and throw down some pine shavings, or top off your deep litter more regularly in winter or when you know a cold snap is coming.

 

[CityslickerHomestead]

Please accept my apologies. I really do think your coop looks nice and no one deserves to be disrespected for trying to learn and to better themselves.

 

[CityslickerHomestead]

Also as others mentioned, chickens poop a lot at night. Frequent cleanings under the roost area will help keep their air quality good in winter. You don't have to deep clean everything. I just take a dustpan and scoop from under the roost and throw down some pine shavings, or top off your deep litter more regularly in winter or when you know a cold snap is coming.

I do this. It been working so far, but it can be time consuming.

 

[Cryss]

Ditch the heater, your chickens don’t need it. They will be warm enough just from their feathers and huddling together.

Agreed 100%!! And if, God forbid, you lose power in a storm your chickens will not have acclimated to the cold and could very possibly freeze to death. They are fine without any heat source.

Don't be too upset with us. Many of us went through heartache and/or frenzied repairs and hate to see someone making the same mistakes. We do tend to jump up and run to help prevent disaster. Me, I'm thankful for people that cared enough to direct me and saved my hide, or at least my flock. I made tons of huge boo boos.
Good you have plans for spring to make improvements. Now concentrate on getting them safely through winter.
As for your question do you need to do more for heat, no. Do less. If they are free from drafts and have adequate ventilation, deep bedding, no water sources inside, they will be comfy cozy.
Enjoy your chickens! They have a cute coop!.

 

[NoodlesMama]

 

[CityslickerHomestead]

View attachment 1979971 View attachment 1979966 View attachment 1979967 View attachment 1979968

Gorgeous.

 

[aart]

Very nice! These pics give a much better perspective.
Still curious about exact measurements of coop and total length of roosts available.

Is this triangle open to the coop?....Same on other side?

Putting some plastic up on run walls, to block most the wind and snow, will greatly improve their winter habitat.

But to answer your title question, yes they should be fine....
....no heat needed, except to keep the water thawed.

 

[NoodlesMama]

I’ve posted the best pictures I have right now. It’s dark but I’ll get better pictures in the morning if people need them.

The windward side has a solid wood at the bottom with plastic covered mesh over 4 feet up to the roof. The lower 3 feet of the front of the run as well as the door is wrapped in heavy plastic sheeting. The third side is sheltered with more plastic sheeting up to the bottom of the coop. The entire run and coop have a corrugated PVC roof, clear over the run and whitewashed over the coop. Most of the ventilation is on the run side of the coop so it’s pretty sheltered but gets good circulation. There is a smaller vent across from the main vent for a good cross ventilation at the highest part.

I only close the pop door if the weather is particularly windy so the chickens usually come out into the run at first light. I get the worst of the droppings out of the coop every morning and it stays pretty fresh.

 

[NoodlesMama]

Very nice! These pics give a much better perspective.
Still curious about exact measurements of coop and total length of roosts available.

Is this triangle open to the coop?....Same on other side?
View attachment 1979984

Putting some plastic up on run walls, to block most the wind and snow, will greatly improve their winter habitat.

But to answer your title question, yes they should be fine....
....no heat needed, except to keep the water thawed.

Ya the triangle you highlighted goes through to the coop and is mostly sheltered from the elements. I do have the lower portion of the run wrapped in plastic. I’ll post pictures with the plastic on tomorrow when It’s light enough to take them.