Winter

[vantain]

Except for adding a heated waterer I don't do much in winter except close the window that is next to the roost. The 10 square feet of vents I have stay open year round. I live in NW Montana where it gets down in the -20s F.

Same here in Minnesota. Close windows, but keep soffit vents open. I also have a ridge vent. For the run, I put up polycarbonate panels so they still get light, but no cold wind. The upper north side of my run is open for ventilation, as well as open ridge and soffit vents. They spend every winter day out in the run, even when the daytime temperature is -25f. Heated waterer is a must.

 

[wamtazlady]

Same here in Minnesota. Close windows, but keep soffit vents open. I also have a ridge vent. For the run, I put up polycarbonate panels so they still get light, but no cold wind. The upper north side of my run is open for ventilation, as well as open ridge and soffit vents. They spend every winter day out in the run, even when the daytime temperature is -25f. Heated waterer is a must.
View attachment 2206770View attachment 2206769

I thought of using the polycarbonate panels. Ended up using clear vinyl shower curtains instead.

 

[vantain]

I thought of using the polycarbonate panels. Ended up using clear vinyl shower curtains instead.

The first winter I used clear plastic and stapled it up. After cleaning up a million staples in the spring, when I removed it, I decided to NEVER do that again. I went with the polycarbonate panels for this last winter, and it was so much easier, though more expensive. Now, I have since increased the size of my run this year, so I have to decide just how many more panels I need to buy for this coming winter.

 

[New2COchicks]

i just converted my wooden tool shed in Colorado and will have 5 Brahma chickens. The handiman says I need to insulate my wooden shed coop...what do u think?

Except for adding a heated waterer I don't do much in winter except close the window that is next to the roost. The 10 square feet of vents I have stay open year round. I live in NW Montana where it gets down in the -20s F.

 

[3KillerBs]

i just converted my wooden tool shed in Colorado and will have 5 Brahma chickens. The handiman says I need to insulate my wooden shed coop...what do u think?

Adequate ventilation renders insulation moot.

Cold climate people will have more detailed advice, but the key is to keep chickens dry -- they're already wearing down coats.

 

[aart]

i just converted my wooden tool shed in Colorado and will have 5 Brahma chickens. The handiman says I need to insulate my wooden shed coop...what do u think?

Do you have a build thread?
Please link it here.
Would help to see what your working with.

Adequate ventilation renders insulation moot.

Cold climate people will have more detailed advice, but the key is to keep chickens dry -- they're already wearing down coats.

Ditto Dat!

 

[wamtazlady]

i just converted my wooden tool shed in Colorado and will have 5 Brahma chickens. The handiman says I need to insulate my wooden shed coop...what do u think?

A warm chicken is a dry chicken. A dry chicken is a warm chicken. You want a dry coop, not a coop that is closed off to hold in the heat of the chickens' bodies. Chickens have down coats to hold in their heat. Get that moisture that gets in the coop from the chickens breathing and pooping out of that coop. Get that moist air out through proper venting. You do not warm up chickens by adding insulation.

I have the sides of my run covered with clear vinyl on 3 sides during the winter. During the coldest days we have in Montana the chickens are out in the run eating and drinking and being chickens. None of them look uncomfortable. They are not huddled and shivering.