Winter Maintenance

[sara728]

Hi there,
I have 3 barred rocks and live in WI. We have a 'tractor' style coop, but it is open and the hens are free range. The coop is light enough for me to move it a few feet every so often to clean up the area underneath. This works fine in the warm weather, but when it gets cold and the snow flies it gets tricky because for one thing, the chickens spend a lot more time in their run (to keep their feet out of the snow) which means more mess in the run than usual. And the run froze to the ground and I was unable to move it and clean up. So, I'm trying to figure out what to do this winter. I'm considering putting the four corners up on blocks, so the whole frame doesn't freeze to the ground. Any other suggestions to keep it moveable during the bitter Wisconsin winters?
Thanks,
Sara

 

[write2caroline]

I think the blocks are a good idea. I think I would use the deep litter method too.

Caroline

 

[sara728]

Thanks Caroline.
I usually don't put anything down in the run , as it's on the grass. But, maybe for the winter I could use a layer of shavings...

 

[Janet Pesaturo]

We used to have a small moveable coop like you described, and in winter we covered the run and put about a foot deep layer of shavings in run. Keep in mind that grass underneath will be gone, come spring. We hated this set-up, and ended up building a much larger stationary coop and letting chickens free range in large fenced yard.