Winter is coming...

[aart]

We were thinking stainless steel staples. Ill have to go to the store with him to pick it out. We have some but he meant to get clear...bought black...sigh...

Take it back and exchange it.
Just stapling, or screwing, will likely tear plastic...doesn't matter what kind of metal fasteners are.
It's best to wrap the edge of plastic a couple times around a 1/2" x 2" piece of wood and screw thru it all into the run framing.

 

[Killer Tomato]

We did thick, black plastic on the sides and roof of our coop, and clear over the glass doors and windows. The roof was leaking, so the plastic on the roof was a must. Our coop is fairly well insulated, but I was still worried. I have more birds now, and might not do the plastic on the sides this winter. It didn't get below 18 F last year (I'm in the lower Oregon Cascades). The waterer in the coop never froze, so it was above 32 F in there.

If I were ever to live someplace where I had to heat my coop, I would use one of the flat panel heaters. But if it got that cold here, my boyfriend would have all 9 chickens inside the house, probably sleeping on the bed with us.

 

[Fluffy&Cutie]

I wish my birds were like this. Just the other day they knocked over all the oyster shell taking a stroll through it

mine just did that today! ugh, i was so upset. tomorrow i ll hook it to the run wall.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Take it back and exchange it.
Just stapling, or screwing, will likely tear plastic...doesn't matter what kind of metal fasteners are.
It's best to wrap the edge of plastic a couple times around a 1/2" x 2" piece of wood and screw thru it all into the run framing.

Good idea. We will have to try that. Just want to be able to reuse stuff if possible. There was a lot of money invested in this whole debacle

 

[Fluffy&Cutie]

I would like to reference this thread for those saying my coop is too small:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/square-foot-per-chicken-question.1175674/page-2
Could I use more space? Yes. Not the topic. My birds just roost in the coop. They are out by 6am every day. It is in the plans to make an addition to the coop at a later date to accommodate for the space issue. Until then this is what i have to work with. Im asking for options for winterizing so not just advice on heating the water. I value all your advice thus far and would like to hear further options in order to make a decision. We love our birds and do not want to lose any so we want to have a safe winter.

yes, sometimes people who are so eager to help don't have the entire story. it always make me feel bad, like a bad mommy, but i try to remember their good intentions. i hear you are making a bigger coop later, and now that you know your hens you can make a great coop! good luck in your water heater information hunt.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

yes, sometimes people who are so eager to help don't have the entire story. it always make me feel bad, like a bad mommy, but i try to remember their good intentions. i hear you are making a bigger coop later, and now that you know your hens you can make a great coop! good luck in your water heater information hunt.

"Look at those evil chicken parents! How dare they make their chickens live like that!" Thats how i feel about it. You cant tell someone how to raise their kids

 

[Blooie]

Well, not much to add....I don’t insulate my setup, I ventilate. I use horizontal nipples in a 5 gallon bucket with a small, rated-for-use-in-plastic stock tank heater, anchored down to the bottom of the bucket BELOW the level of the nipples. I use solid bricks, not hollow ones, to set the water on. I also have the water in the run on the sunniest side. First year I didn’t do those things, the nipples froze solid, with icicles down to the floor. I use deep litter - true deep litter, not deep bedding. I don’t heat the coop, their pop door is open to the run 24/7, and the run is mostly covered with reinforced, clear plastic. The south side is attached as a separate piece which we can roll up or down like a window shade - it’s usually left open at least partially unless we have a storm coming from that direction. The north side has a space at the top of the arch that’s not covered. Every morning when we do chores, we leave the people door open and they can go out or stay in. Their choice. As you can see by the photo on the home page that leads to this thread, they usually all go out, even the Silkies, even at 9 degrees out there.

I think the key is allowing them to naturally and gradually adjust to the falling temperatures and to the days getting shorter. By the way, I’m in Northwestern Wyoming in a bowl between 3 mountain ranges, and not far from Yellowstone Park. Yep, we get cold here. This is my setup in winter, and yes, there are chickens under there doing very well!

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

View attachment 1531000 Well, not much to add....I don’t insulate my setup, I ventilate. I use horizontal nipples in a 5 gallon bucket with a small, rated-for-use-in-plastic stock tank heater, anchored down to the bottom of the bucket BELOW the level of the nipples. I use solid bricks, not hollow ones, to set the water on. I also have the water in the run on the sunniest side. First year I didn’t do those things, the nipples froze solid, with icicles down to the floor. I use deep litter - true deep litter, not deep bedding. I don’t heat the coop, their pop door is open to the run 24/7, and the run is mostly covered with reinforced, clear plastic. The south side is attached as a separate piece which we can roll up or down like a window shade - it’s usually left open at least partially unless we have a storm coming from that direction. The north side has a space at the top of the arch that’s not covered. Every morning when we do chores, we leave the people door open and they can go out or stay in. Their choice. As you can see by the photo on the home page that leads to this thread, they usually all go out, even the Silkies, even at 9 degrees out there.

I think the key is allowing them to naturally and gradually adjust to the falling temperatures and to the days getting shorter. By the way, I’m in Northwestern Wyoming in a bowl between 3 mountain ranges, and not far from Yellowstone Park. Yep, we get cold here. This is my setup in winter, and yes, there are chickens under there doing very well!

If you have it available please post the product info for that tank heater. We were thinking of going with the nipples but now im not so sure since the freeze too

 

[Blooie]

I’ll see if I can find it. We used the same one every winter.

 

[Killer Tomato]

"Look at those evil chicken parents! How dare they make their chickens live like that!" Thats how i feel about it. You cant tell someone how to raise their kids

I understand the feeling! I'm sorry it came across like that.