Winter is Coming! Checklists, tips, advice for a newbie

[Kaitie09]

I use contractor plastic and cover 2 sides of the run. I have gone a few years without doing that and they were fine too, but the wind was blowing snow into the run and they would not walk in it. I also use a blue heated dog bowl and go out each morning with a gallon of hot water. By the time I walk over there, some of the heat has left, so it is warm enough for them to drink. I will add straw to their coop and give them some BOSS in the run.

Note: Make sure when covering the run with plastic you leave at least one wall open (I choose one of the long ones). You don't want to keep in all the moisture and heat, it needs to escape. The main purpose of plastic is to stop the wind and snow, while still letting in light.

 

[Chickens R Us]

Hi all,

I live in Portland, OR where we don't get too many hard frosts and temps are generally mild during the winter. My primary concern will be making sure their bedding remains dry with all the rain! But I'm not sure how 'hardy' my breeds are and whether they'll need any supplemental light/heat in the winter. Can anyone help me identify the breeds and what their requirements are as far as temps and light? I thought about putting a small 40w light in their coop, putting it on a timer, and having it come on 2 hrs after dusk/before dawn. But would a thermostat be better? I've seen some simple ones that turn on at 35F and off at 45F. Thanks for the help!

Temp info (from Wikipedia):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Oregon#Climate

If you don't get many hard frosts or below 0F I wouldn't even bother with the light unless you use it for egg production. I don't use any type of heat source until it gets into the minuses and then I use a 75w when it gets to -25F I turn on additional 100w

 

[Dazza]

Well we do want eggs, yes. I've heard some breeds need supplemental light to lay and some don't, so I guess my first task is to find out what breed that 1st bird is.

 

[Troy6671]

I live in Michigan and the winters are COLD! I wrap my outside run with tarps. I place plexi-glass in all windows, add lots of heat lamps and make sure the litter is deep! All my girls seem to handle the cold very well. I keep electric water heaters under my water to keep from freezing. Give a little extra scratch daily to help keep them warm! Keep lights on a timer to help keep the egg production as high as possible. Last year 13 birds averaged 9-10 eggs per day (even on the coldest days)! Hope this helps!

 

[LadyCluck77]

Hi all, I live in Portland, OR where we don't get too many hard frosts and temps are generally mild during the winter. My primary concern will be making sure their bedding remains dry with all the rain! But I'm not sure how 'hardy' my breeds are and whether they'll need any supplemental light/heat in the winter. Can anyone help me identify the breeds and what their requirements are as far as temps and light? I thought about putting a small 40w light in their coop, putting it on a timer, and having it come on 2 hrs after dusk/before dawn. But would a thermostat be better? I've seen some simple ones that turn on at 35F and off at 45F. Thanks for the help! Temp info (from Wikipedia): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Oregon#Climate

What color eggs does the top bird lay? My guess, and it's just my best guess, from the green legs would be Easter egger. They are pretty hardy in rain and cold as far as I can tell. The second one appears to be a production red, also a great hardy bird.

 

[Janelyn]

I live in central California with a few 30 degree nights but mostly lows in the 40's. it looks like I should do nothing??

 

[jimmywalt]

Sarahswank: I considered that myself last year...and even thought I'd put an aquarium heater in the bucket to help keep the water open. But despite my efforts for a couple days to get them trained to the bucket...they wouldn't drink out of it! I know it can be done...but mine were resistant to it. But I did read a thread that the nipples will eventually freeze up...somewhere on here. They always need water movement through them to stay open. So I decided against that option just given my birds liking their regular waterer and built the cookie tin heating base.

I was thinking about trying that too with an submersible aquarium heater and a subermisible fountain pump ($5.99 at harbor freight - see link), but just not certain that it would work here in west Michigan without it freezing.

http://www.harborfreight.com/92-gph-miniature-submersible-fountain-pump-68389.html

 

[JackE]

I live in central California with a few 30 degree nights but mostly lows in the 40's. it looks like I should do nothing??

Yes, do nothing, you don't have anything to worry about. Just keep your existing ventilation as it is.

 

[Dazza]

What color eggs does the top bird lay?
My guess, and it's just my best guess, from the green legs would be Easter egger. They are pretty hardy in rain and cold as far as I can tell.
The second one appears to be a production red, also a great hardy bird.

She hasn't started laying yet so I can't say.

I'll probably add a light on a timer if their egg production decreases but not worry about temperature for now (it sounds like I don't need to?). Maybe if we get a really cold snap I'll put something over the window to keep the drafts out and make sure they have lots of bedding.

 

[jalen911]

Bogtown Chick, Post #34

We have a small coop with a small run attached, then an additional longer run that we have right up against the small coop & run. What we did was turn the small, attached run into a "porch" hoping to make it a bit more like a coop than a run, by adding thick plywood to the sides & top. So now they have a small coop, the "porch" which offers protection from wind and should be slightly warmer than in the run, as well as the run. We typically let them free range in our yard all day long as they please though.

This will be my first MN winter (wright county, south of St.Cloud about an hour). Our "porch" has a ladder into the coop, with a small opening, so there is no actual "door" to our coop. It simply has the opening where they come out of it by going down the ladder, into the "porch", which is open on one side to the longer run. Do you think that will be a problem? I noticed you mention that on below 0 days you keep them in the coop, but I don't have a door to shut them in so it will be up to them if they want to come out and I'm hoping I can trust them to stay in the coop when it's below 0 and freezing. Should I add some type of flap or door to force them to stay in the coop when I need them too, or do you think I can trust them to self-regulate?

Thanks for the coop pictures, it's always nice to have very specific ideas of what to do/what not to do from someone in your same climate