Winter Care

[KimInKy]

This is my first winter with chickens. They are about 17 weeks old Rhode Island Reds I live in Kentucky and our winters are usually not to bad maybe a few single digits but not many days. I have decided against a heat source and am trying the deep litter method. I also want to put a roof on the run and possibly wrap the sides halfway up to block wind. My question is what is the best way to winterize? I want to put foam board insulation in the coop with thin paneling over it to keep the chickens from pecking at it. I have added pics Thank you so much for helping me.

 

[Sally PB]

You need good ventilation even more in the winter than the summer. Keep the moist air vented out above the chickens' heads to help prevent frostbite on combs and wattles. Dry chickens are warm chickens. They don't need a heat source until you get to brutal cold temps; they are wearing down parkas, after all. (Brutal cold is below zero, F.)

A roof over the run, if doable, will keep out most of the rain/snow, but it has to be able to withstand the weight of any snow you get. Here in Michigan, we get heavy wet snow. I broom off the roof of the run when we get anything more than an inch.

Windblock panels/tarps on the walls of the run make it much nicer for them to be outside on not so nice days.

 

[KimInKy]

You need good ventilation even more in the winter than the summer. Keep the moist air vented out above the chickens' heads to help prevent frostbite on combs and wattles. Dry chickens are warm chickens. They don't need a heat source until you get to brutal cold temps; they are wearing down parkas, after all. (Brutal cold is below zero, F.)

A roof over the run, if doable, will keep out most of the rain/snow, but it has to be able to withstand the weight of any snow you get. Here in Michigan, we get heavy wet snow. I broom off the roof of the run when we get anything more than an inch.

Windblock panels/tarps on the walls of the run make it much nicer for them to be outside on not so nice days.

Yes I worry about ventilation because we only have the one opening at the top with the overhang and the windows which is all on the same side. I am thinking about adding a small vent with a door on the opposite side at the top. Thank you for all the suggestions.

 

[HootWhite]

Hi I am in northern KY and this is the ventilation I have for my flock. Out of the wind and roost is well below the vents.

 

[Penpal]

You don't need insulation. I live in Michigan and our Rhode Island Reds did fine without insulation in the coop. You don't need any type of roof on the run unless you have flying predators, and even then you only need a net.

 

[KimInKy]

We have hawks and eagles so I have wire on the roof if the run.

 

[KimInKy]

Hi I am in northern KY and this is the ventilation I have for my flock. Out of the wind and roost is well below the vents.

That’s a nice coop. Thank you for showing me. I really think I may need more ventilation.

 

[Penpal]

We have hawks and bald eagles. I don't know why, but I've never had trouble from the eagles.