Winter run / coop heating

[AntiqueB]

I'm trying something new this year. I've covered the outside of the run with vinyl shower curtains, and will use the same sheeting as Nikki for the roof. There is ventilation on the top, and part of one side (the door to the run). In front of the coop door, I will build a plastic windbreaker, to slow any wind that might come through the run. It's really just some wood framing attached to a pole in the center of the run and a post on the side of the coop.

Run is in blue, coop in yellow, windbreak in red.

 

[KyCoop]

We invested in polycarbonate roof panels for our run.
I was never successful at getting the plastic wrap to not flap and make noise in the wind not matter what I did.

 

[Devorah]

Mine have done well even in occasional -40F. As long as they are dry, well ventilated, have a place to get out of the wind and access to fresh water, they should do okay. I use transparent garden plastic around the run to block wind and allow sunlight. One roll lasted me 3 winters.

Hi — Where did you buy the plastic and how did you attach it? Thanks.

 

[AntiqueB]

Mine is also on its 3rd year, but I don't have wild, gusting winds that often. I use this one:
Warp Brothers SP-4CH10-C 4 Mil... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WJVVF2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

This year, I'm using Ikea shower curtains on the sides because the run expanded. The plastic sheeting will go on top as a roof.

 

[NikkiChikks]

Hi — Where did you buy the plastic and how did you attach it? Thanks.

Hello! I bought it off Amazon.

To attach, I used thin pieces of wood, kind of like yard sticks for measuring. I drilled holes in the sticks and then wrapped the plastic around the stick about 3 times. Then punched holes into the plastic and through the holes in the wood. Then zip tied the plastic to the wood. Did the same on the other end of the plastic and then zip tied the wood/plastic to the run. Do in manageable panels until the whole area you want covered is covered. Even in high wind the plastic doesn't flap too much.

(My coop/run is kind of odd; I built a coop within an old metal corn crib that was built atop an even older stone silo. So it is about 3 feet above ground and stone and metal. Nothing can dig in...But the metal panels that held the corn in are wide enough for a raccoon to reach in, so I zip tied hardware cloth 6' up. That's where the plastic panels come in, my run is round and high up so nothing worked until I made the custom panels.)

Sorry for the long post; I was just cleaning the coop today so it's in my mind! All I have left to do is fix the roof so another great horned owl doesn't get in. (He was majestic and didn't kill a single chicken!)

 

[3KillerBs]

(My coop/run is kind of odd; I built a coop within an old metal corn crib that was built atop an even older stone silo. So it is about 3 feet above ground and stone and metal. Nothing can dig in...But the metal panels that held the corn in are wide enough for a raccoon to reach in, so I zip tied hardware cloth 6' up. That's where the plastic panels come in, my run is round and high up so nothing worked until I made the custom panels.)

It would be cool to see photos of this unique structure.

 

[AntiqueB]

If you need to make holes in plastic sheeting, make sure to reinforce the spot with some kind of tape, and use a punch so there is a clean hole.

 

[Ponypoor]

So not really about heating. I have 2 hens. A welsummer and a cream legbar. We are nearing winter here in Scotland. Our winters can be quite brutal for temps. This is my first winter having my chickens outside. they have a 8x8ft Run in our back yard thats 6ft tall. Our winter temps can get down to around -5C (around 20-23F) I was looking at maybe buying large clear sheets of plastic to cover up their run area so cold winds wouldnt bother them. as it does get rather windy over here in the winter. Would it be necessary i do that? or will they be ok without that? I should say their coop is a small one. Big enough for the 2 though. But does not have a door on it. Designed without a door. I want to make sure as we are coming into winter, that they will be as comfortable as they can be. Budget is tight. although starting a new job in a couple of weeks. so i can save for improvements if anyone has suggestions.
many thanks to all

The best advice I can give is block any wind and rain/snow from making them wet.

My gang will generally not go outside once the big snows arrive here (central Ontario Canada), they hate the snow unless I put old horse manure out on top of it. I am extremely fortunate that I have a huge barn they can stay in and run around in all winter.

The big thing is the cold, it can get to -30c many days here and that’s tough on them, if you see them huddled together and not being active then you know the cold is affecting them, I have a Cozy Coop radiant heat panel that they like to sit next to when it’s really cold.

Down around to -10c they are running about digging through the horse stalls, and generally making a mess with the hay but below that they start to be less active and want to huddle someplace warm. Even in my barn it will get to -20c inside if it -30c outside.

I have a hen house they all sleep in at night which is located inside the barn. It is a fully insulated room, has paver brick floor covered in shavings, at night it will stay just around the freezing point or a bit above on all but the most coldest nights, those nights I put the Cozy Coop heater in there to help keep it warm.

The next most important thing is water and feed, get a good electric heated waterer, it will be your best purchase ever! And make sure they have good free choice feed. I make a hot mash every morning for mine, it’s like a porridge and they love it!

If you don’t get a lot of snow you’re very fortunate, if you do try to put straw or shavings down for them to walk on, it will help keep their feet dry and they can dig through it and do chicken things in the winter on nice days when I can do so, I let my gang out to forage on the manure pile (mount poopmore). It’s warm from the compost action, and many times there are bugs hidden in the composting material that they can dig and eat - yummmy .

So block wind, keep dry, and free choose water and feed. Simple as that!

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

So not really about heating. I have 2 hens. A welsummer and a cream legbar. We are nearing winter here in Scotland. Our winters can be quite brutal for temps. This is my first winter having my chickens outside. they have a 8x8ft Run in our back yard thats 6ft tall. Our winter temps can get down to around -5C (around 20-23F) I was looking at maybe buying large clear sheets of plastic to cover up their run area so cold winds wouldnt bother them. as it does get rather windy over here in the winter. Would it be necessary i do that? or will they be ok without that? I should say their coop is a small one. Big enough for the 2 though. But does not have a door on it. Designed without a door. I want to make sure as we are coming into winter, that they will be as comfortable as they can be. Budget is tight. although starting a new job in a couple of weeks. so i can save for improvements if anyone has suggestions.
many thanks to all

If you can afford to make at least a little section protecting them from snow, wind, rain. Maybe a little hiding place in the run until you can afford to properly wrap it how you want. The cold winds are what they hate (at least mine do). Some chicken breeds are more cold tolerant than others. Winters here can get down to 10F but much colder with the wind chills. I used a staple gun and wrapped the coop in a kind of clear tarp about 3ft up all the way around. Good luck!