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

[Critter Mom]

I have a Brinsea Brooder that I used with my girls as chicks. Has anyone ever used one with adult birds in extreme cold?

 

[aart]

I have a Brinsea Brooder that I used with my girls as chicks. Has anyone ever used one with adult birds in extreme cold?

You don't need heat, really, you don't...and it would be too small anyway, save it for the next batch of chicks.

 

[Alaskan]

I have a Brinsea Brooder that I used with my girls as chicks.  Has anyone ever used one with adult birds in extreme cold?

I think when it gets below -30F, you need a flat panel infrared heat emitter kind of heater....

Not sure... I don't get that cold.

 

[Chickmomma0324]

Great Idea! I like the shower curtain idea!!

 

[the poppster]

Ha! It does look like a shower curtain...but it's not! It's a clear reinforced poly tarp! I found it on the internet. I was going to use the heavyweight plastic they use for drop cloths....but this tarp is really tough, I will roll it up and tie it, like a tent flap in the spring....rather than remove it completely. Next winter I will just unroll and secure them again. They should last a few years, at least.

 

[edenrice]

Great thread!

 

[LadyCluck77]

Great thread!

Thank you! I learned a lot of great tips from this thread.
What kind of winters do you have? What do you do/ plan to do for your flock?

Over here we're at 17F. Chilly, but it could be worse. My flock got warm oatmeal today in a black rubber dish. A few didn't venture out of the coop so I'll be heading out around noon just to check they're alright.

 

[bigmrg74]

The summer solstice is coming up, and the heat of the summer is upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere. Lots of of people working on their coops right now. I just want to remind you all of this one important detail.... Winter is coming!

 

[Alaskan]

Good point...

Which made me decide to toss this up....

My Cold Weather Coop article.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing.72010/

 

[bigmrg74]

Summertime and the living is easy. But soon we'll be past July. Winter is coming. I just prepared myself for it by ordering a brand new carhart coat to be my new barn coat. My old one was like 20 years old and was getting pretty darn worn.