Winter is coming!

[valmom]

We are new the chickens this year. Our coop is relatively close to the house (so we could babysit them and try to keep predators at bay), and it doesn't have electricity out to it. We could concievably run an extension cord to the house for the winter. That may be enough for a heat lamp. Can one of those be on all night safely? Is there a better solution?

Right now we have a stick up fluorescent light to check on them in the dark, but there is nothing set up for warmth. How cold can chickens get? How do I keep them warm without setting anything on fire? How do I keep water unfrozen (besides changing it several times a day which is what we are planning now)?

Any other people in places where there is real winter who can give me some tips?

 

[Dawn419]

I'm not much help to you since I'm in TN but I found this post about Overwintering Chickens that will probably help you out!

Welcome to BYC, by the way!!!

Dawn

 

[Standard Hen]

Hi and welcome. This question has come up here alot lately and if you look around you will see everyones input. I live in New England too. I do not have heat or insulation in my coops. They are dry and draft free though and that is what is important. The doors have screen on them and in the winter I staple clear think plastic over them to keep out the wind and weather. I bed the coops good with shavings and some hay.
As far as water last year I purchased two heated dog bowls and ran an extension cord up from my barn, they worked wonderful! They also have heaters which you can sit the waterers right on top of. I leave my water in the pens and not in the coops. When they roost at night they go to sleep and then are let out first thing in the morning. This year I am going into winter with more chickens so I bought a smaller version of a heated horse water bucket so they will have plenty. I still have to re-do some weather stripping around an extra little door that was cut to wide but I still have time.
By the way I have all standard size winter hardy breeds and they keep each other warm just fine at night all snuggled.

 

[valmom]

How many chickens in a coop does it take to keep each other warm? I only have 8.

 

[Standard Hen]

It doesn't really seem to matter as far as I can tell as they all roost together no matter how many are in there.

 

[nccountrygirl]

Hey y'all, what can be used to cover the pop hole when it gets cold, and do any of y'all do it. Thanks in advance

 

[Chickending]

Another hint is if you do run extension cords, which I do use that for my coop. If you use more than one and to protect the plug between two cords I will wrap electrical tape around where the two connect and then also duct tape. It protects the joint from moisture if its snows on the exposed cords throughout the winter. I have found this works and protects the cords.

 

[Standard Hen]

Great idea and I do plan on doing that this winter. Glad you mentioned it! Thanks.