Winter is coming

[JustJess09]

Would be good to see your run too.
Snow load can be a nasty winter issue.

I can post pictures of the run after I get home from work- but it is defintiley a work in progress.

Also, I followed the link in your signature and am reading more about proper ventiltion. There were gaps in the eaves, under the grooves in the metal, that I naively plugged up with caulk. Because of course the city-girl with zero experience knew better than the ahmish guy that built the shed, lol. I'll be working on digging that out this week- should I put some hardware cloth up in the rafters?

Would it be a good idea to just cut a small hole near the roof for ventiliation? Of course covering it with wire mesh?

 

[aart]

I can post pictures of the run after I get home from work- but it is defintiley a work in progress.

Also, I followed the link in your signature and am reading more about proper ventiltion. There were gaps in the eaves, under the grooves in the metal, that I naively plugged up with caulk. Because of course the city-girl with zero experience knew better than the ahmish guy that built the shed, lol. I'll be working on digging that out this week- should I put some hardware cloth up in the rafters?

Would it be a good idea to just cut a small hole near the roof for ventiliation? Of course covering it with wire mesh?

Well, I doubt those gaps were left with the idea of ventilation,
I've yet to see an 'amish' coop designed with properly venting,
those corrugation gaps would not have been enough anyway.
So yes, cutting more vents is needed, more than just "small holes".

 

[JustJess09]

I'm still reading through that other thread, and it sounds like it's best to vent through the ceiling/ roof? The roof of my coop is basically 3 pieces of metal- two large sheets and then a smaller one over the gap connecting the two. If I got up there and removed that third piece on top, would that open it up sufficiently?

 

[aart]

I'm still reading through that other thread, and it sounds like it's best to vent through the ceiling/ roof? The roof of my coop is basically 3 pieces of metal- two large sheets and then a smaller one over the gap connecting the two. If I got up there and removed that third piece on top, would that open it up sufficiently?

NO, do not remove that piece, it covers the gap between the two large sheets of roofing. Look at that place from the inside of the coop, you should be able to see some daylight coming thru there, that acts as a ridge vent.

 

[Hazel my 1st]

As @DobieLover meant to say, you do not need to heat the coop. It does help to have a heated waterer (not inside the coop), but even that is not necessary if you can bring water out to the coop multiple times a day (which I did for many years).

What breeds do you have? If you post some pictures of your coop we might be able to help figure out the best way to winterize it.

I am wondering also about winter and I have Buff orpington, Isa browns and 2 Gems but our nights get below freezing here in Oregon

 

[Sally PB]

I am wondering also about winter and I have Buff orpington, Isa browns and 2 Gems but our nights get below freezing here in Oregon

One thing to remember: What feels cold us in October is not cold for chickens.

"Ooooo! It's 40 F out! Put on a heavy coat," says Sally.

"Forty, shmorty! Ha! I laugh at you, silly Hooman!" says the chicken with her down parka.

If you can keep your chickens dry and out of a wind strong enough to ruffle their feathers, they can keep themselves warm at temps we think are very cold, like 20F.

I put up wind block panels on the prevailing wind sides of the run. The run has a roof, so it keeps out nearly all the rain/snow. I also put air filter material over the openings in the coop. This allows warm moist air and ammonia to vent out, but keeps the wind from blowing in.