Winter/Cold question

[HollidaySmith]

TMD, I love your coop. We have a tractor but find that it really doesn't protect the chickens like a good coop will, so we are in the process of converting a 9x12 shed into a cold weather coop. We will also attach a 20x20 covered run so that they can still go out in the winter if they wish. For us it was more than just the cold at issue. During the colder months there are more predators waiting to get a nice fat chicken. We figured that we could make due with 5 sq ft per bird. The shed is insulated and has power and a window a/c. I would like some heat but may have to wait a year for that. The heat is more for me than the birds though. )

 

[WannaBeDoc]

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Well the tractor will be on four wheels (original idea of a push cart fell overboard after I guesstimated the wheight) and I can tow it around on my property. Tractor vs permanent structure: I want a movable structure so I dont collide with the building code (I did a remodel of the house last year and I am having it with these guys), also the run outside the coop usually gets a pretty muddy affair quickly, so moving it around seemed like a good idea to prevent lawn damage

I am not fixed on the number of chickens, if I can only do three reasonably with the size restrictions I have, that's fine too - or I pick a smaller breed as well. I was just worried about loosing them to cold and wanted some opinions before I finish my coop...

Keep it coming, appreciate the input !

 

[WannaBeDoc]

Thanks, I did not think about shoveling the run....mhh....not sure if I like that...maybe a roof over the run is better....

 

[RedDrgn]

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Thanks. The chickens are free to choose the coop they want to spend the night in. Oddly enough, though both coops are relatively identical, they seem to prefer each others company and tend to migrate just one coop. The stocking density of the coop in the picture has to be around 1.5 square feet per bird. The birds are leghorns, marans (black copper and cuckoo), production reds, and easter eggers.

Hey, if they're happy being bunched up in one coop, then I guess everyone's happy. Through the winter months, I'd imagine they'd prefer to stick together for warmth. 1.5 square feet per bird sounds fantastic on a freezing night.

 

[EmAbTo48]

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Awesome! We litterally have a neighbor about 2 miles down the road from us that raises sheep have the exact same coop! I always stop and look at it cause its just so neat! I like how easy it is to move around. Our neighbors got it moved every other day all over his land!

As for OP, we insulate our coop, we are up in the northern part of Wisconsin, I have one heat lamp but they tend to not even sit under it. They are draft free, dry, bed shavings and they do just fine. My eggs never freeze.. Ihave noticed my hens really like to just sleep in there nesting boxes in the colder winter. So i have enough boxes to allow them to share a box. I think my issue is I can never keep there dang water from freezing! I have gotten 2 buckets that are supposed to be heated and they are crap! I am hoping to look around before winter hits soon and get something that will work....

 

[TDM]

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I adapted my coops from web searches and this website: http://mystorageshed.blogspot.com/ I have actual construction photos under my BYC page. Maybe I copied your neighbor because I did see one grey gambrel roofed mobile hen house that inspired me.

I think this is a good way to use old hay wagon running gears that are laying around the old farms. I put about $200 into the running gear, and then about $1,000 into the coop itself. Currently I have two more mobile hen houses under construction, and these will go out into the fields in May.

I like them because they are full fledged coops that can house chickens comfortably during the winter. They can be taken off the field and corralled close by to facilitate feeding. In the summer, many birds just like to sit under the wagon during the heat of the day. They also provide cover for chickens when aerial predators are flying around.