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