Winter issues

[juliaschickens]

How can I prevent my coop and hens from getting too cold?? They don’t get much time to free range during the week, usually on weekends. I don’t want them to get frostbite either, considering they have larger combs. It was 18 F this morning, and very windy. Any suggestions??? I’m a new chicken owner btw.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

The key is draft free ventilation. You'll want about 1 sq ft per bird. As long as they stay dry and out of the drafts they'll adapt to the weather well. The reason for the ventilation is to prevent moisture build up in the coop.

ETA: If you can put wind breaks on the lower portion of the run to keep out rain, snow and cold winds that helps too.

 

[chickens really]

What breeds?....Roosts lower than vents...I block off my North and West vents...

 

[juliaschickens]

What breeds?....Roosts lower than vents...I block off my North and West vents...

Isa Browns, buff or

What breeds?....Roosts lower than vents...I block off my North and West vents...

isa browns, buff orphington, Black sex link

 

[RollTideChicken]

What breeds?....Roosts lower than vents...I block off my North and West vents...

I don't block off my North and West vents. My thought is that's where most of the wind is coming from that you need to take the moisture out. As long as the vents are not at roost level the chickens should never get a direct breeze. My vents are 2.5" holes all around the top, 18 in total, and 2 ft. above the roosts.

 

[aart]

How can I prevent my coop and hens from getting too cold?? They don’t get much time to free range during the week, usually on weekends. I don’t want them to get frostbite either, considering they have larger combs. It was 18 F this morning, and very windy. Any suggestions??? I’m a new chicken owner btw.

In order to give a viable answer we would need to know:
-your flock size(numbers, ages, genders),
-your coop(size in feet by feet with pics),
-your location, as climate is important in management,
(you can put it in your profile, then it's always there!)