Winter is coming...

[SueT]

Could you please explain? My logic would be, little to no ventilation; no cold air for frost bite.

The BYC experts all stress the importance of ventilation in winter---it has to do with preventing build-up of moisture and ammonia--these lead to frostbite. The more crowded the coop is, the more critical this becomes. I don't really understand the science but I've learned to trust the pundits, they know what they're talking about.

 

[snow5164]

Could you please explain? My logic would be, little to no ventilation; no cold air for frost bite.

@aart can you please explain ventilation?

 

[aart]

@aart can you please explain ventilation?

it has to do with preventing build-up of moisture and ammonia--these lead to frostbite

Sue already did
Moisture is one thing that causes to frostbite, in combination with cold air...
... ammonia is just not good to breathe.

Here's a pretty good discussion:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048597/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts

 

[moniquem]

All great ideas! This will be my first winter with chickens so I'm a bit nervous...I did buy chickens that are cold hardy (EE,BR,BA and SS) so that will help.

The top of my coop has insulation, I've got plenty of venting and I plan on removing the highest roost because I feel they are to close to the sides of the coop, which will get cold. I plan on putting one of these up on a wall in the coop https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LX9K1JI/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_40?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER. Has anyone ver used one of these?

For the run, which they never really stay in, I'll put in a water warmer and cover the top with a tarp to keep out snow. Other than that they will still have free range in the yard and hang out on the covered back porch which seems to be the spot during the rain

 

[snow5164]

Can’t open the amazon link , you can take a picture of the product and post that

 

[aart]

which will get cold.

How cold...in °F?
Not sure you'll need this heater.

Can’t open the amazon link , you can take a picture of the product and post that

 

[moniquem]

How cold...in °F?

It can get in the negatives here in Spokane and definately single digits...

Should I be adding cracked corn, higher protein and other things during winter or should I keep feeding layer feed?

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

For those who use heated waterer bases with their waterers, as we are planning to do this winter, how do you set them up so that the waterers don't end up being filled with wood shavings from chickens scratching around in the bedding? Last winter we put a couple of pieces of 2x4s under the waterer base to raise it up a bit but we were still constantly having to dump shavings out of the water. Should we put the waterers on a higher platform?

 

[aart]

It can get in the negatives here in Spokane and definately single digits...

Should I be adding cracked corn, higher protein and other things during winter or should I keep feeding layer feed?

I just feed the same as all year round.
The 'corn for warmth' thing is fallacy.

Should we put the waterers on a higher platform?

Yes, a couple concrete blocks side by side(8" high) should work well...just make sure base is stable and well supported.

 

[moniquem]

I just feed the same as all year round.
The 'corn for warmth' thing is fallacy.

Okay, good to know