Winter With Chickens: To Heat or Not Heat the Coop

[TXchickmum]

I think a key point is right at the start of the article


"Choosing the right type of chicken for your environment is a very important factor not to be overlooked."

I agree this is key. Our winters are mild and the birds thrive during the cooler months. -no heat required, here. (We, unfortunately, have some birds that seem to really struggle during the summer heat. -didn't research breeds enough before purchasing.)

I can't fathom temps below 0.......much less -40!!! Oh my!!

 

[ten chicks]

I agree this is key. Our winters are mild and the birds thrive during the cooler months. -no heat required, here. (We, unfortunately, have some birds that seem to really struggle during the summer heat. -didn't research breeds enough before purchasing.)

I can't fathom temps below 0.......much less -40!!! Oh my!!

The temp in Manitoba can drop to -53 with wind chill(or colder). This is the reason i heat my coops.

 

[TXchickmum]

With temps like that, I'd heat too. Wow!!

 

[MoonShadows]

I am in Manitoba too and have never heated my coops. I keep many smaller coops though, rather than large barns. I feel the heat is retained better as well as the air flow. I can keep a closer eye on each space and the flock in each. Most of the practices I have adopted from my grandparents who were free range chicken farmers. The only time they ever had issues over the winter was when they heated. We don't have a generator so if the power failed here, the chickens would be SOL. Most of the breeds we have here were bred for cold climate. I definitely am not opposed to changing the way I do things if I see a problem, I just never have so I'll keep on. Our coop walls aren't insulated either but I have a beautiful active deep litter and we have spray foam insulated all of the cracks. By the way, whereabouts in Manitoba did it get that cold last week????

What kind of spray insulation do you use for the cracks? Do the chickens peck at it. The reason I ask is because I used rough cut pine boards to sheath my coop. Some have cracks between them. I was going to use laths to seal up the cracks from the inside of the coop, but the foam would probably do a better job. I don't think caulking would hold as well.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: Lath will be the BEST thing, although they work best when put on the exterior, and silicone caulking would work fine as well, and would be more durable than foam

The foam will swell outside the cracks, and look bad, and will be tempting for the birds to peck

 

[MoonShadows]

Putting the lathing on the outside might work better, and would be easier, but I sheathed the outside of my coop with rough cut planks, and it has an "old barn" look. Putting the laths on the outside will destroy that look. After writing my questions above, I decided against the foam anyway. Chickens peck at anything and everything. I think they would peck at the foam, too.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: If you don't want to change the look, I'd use clear silicone caulking applied from the outside to seal the cracks against the weather

Another option, depending on the size of the cracks is to fill them with rope or twine, they way they used to do on wooden ships

You can do that on deep cracks to save on caulking

 

[Rooster Rules]

The temp in Manitoba can drop to -53 with wind chill(or colder). This is the reason i heat my coops.

Yup, we know why we add heat in these parts don't we. You aren't adding heat yet are you? I used the oil filled rad electric heaters, and they are caged, so birds can't crap on em, or knock em over... I just add enough heat to take the edge off. None of my sets of grandparents added any heat into there chicken coops right here in Southern Manitoba... -53, not an every year occurrence thank God, but get a lot of -40 to -45 each year. Think you are around the Gimli area, that's gotta be the coldest zone in Southern Manitoba

 

[urbanchange90]

I was worried about how they would do in the Pacific Northwest but after reading this thread I no longer have any worries. Thanks guys!

 

[Kessy09]

I'm not sure what the foam stuff was called-it was something my husband picked up and it's been a couple years. No picking/pecking at it yet but it's a very thin amount an only in the crevices. The coops are quite solid so we definitely did not need to use much or in very many areas.