Wintering Chickens in Western Colorado

[MattnCJ]

Hi Everyone!

This is our first winter with our 8 Sisters. We are a bit anxious about this winter weathering our chickens. Any suggestions for snowy winters in Western Colorado areas? We've got the warmer for the water, the heat light and ventilation. Any advice is much appreciated! Matt & CJ

 

[DobieLover]

Hi
im in Colorado Springs and i converted my tool shed to a coop. The shed is in good condition but I can see one corner has a little light coming in. I put in 2 windows and here are 2 vents at top and one vent at bottom. i am getting 5 brahmas. The handi man said I need insulation and a light in there for warmth in winter. What do you think?

thanks

Your handy man doesn't know chicken husbandry. You do not need insulation or a light for heat. Chickens keep themselves warm by fluffing their feathers in a DRY well ventilated coop. It's damp air that makes them cold.

 

[New2COchicks]

Unless you have delicate breeds, the heat lamp isn't necessary. I'm in Northwestern Wyoming, not too far from Yellowstone Park, and we don't insulate nor heat our coop in any way. We have tons of windows, a vent down low on the west side and directly opposite that is the pop door, which is open 24/7. We have operable vents along the upper walls (think large heat registers in homes) and on nasty days we can close them and the windows on the side where the weather might be coming in but leave the others wide open.

The coop is dry with plenty of air flow to take out warm, moist air. Dampness is the enemy in winter, not temperatures. But ventilation doesn't mean enough draft coming in to ruffle their feathers. That's like breaking the zipper on a warm down coat we might wear - brrrrr! All that warm air trapped next to their bodies is escaping if they are in drafts strong enough to ruffle their feathers.

Our run is covered with clear, reinforced greenhouse type plastic, but not by any means sealed up. The south side is done like a window shade that we can roll all the way down on warmer days and up most of the way on nasty ones. The north side has a large gap about 2 feet long by 8 or 9 inches and it stays open all the time. The bottom of the west and east sides don't go all the way to the ground. The first year we did the plastic we sealed that run up tight, ala greenhouse. Dumb, dumb, dumb! <sigh> Condensation was literally running down the inside walls and dripping on our heads if we bumped the top. Bad mistake. So we opened it up, let it air out, and put good ventilation into practice there as well as in the coop. Problem solved. I can even raise chicks out there when temps are in the teens and twenties, using nothing more than a heating pad cave in a wire pen within the run. Not that I recommend raising chicks in winter, but you know springtime in the Rockies - we got our last snowfall on June 6th the first year I had chickens.

Pictures of your setup would help considerably, so we could more accurately speak to your concerns. I see you've been a member since March, but since your still relatively new let me welcome you to BYC!

Hi
im in Colorado Springs and i converted my tool shed to a coop. The shed is in good condition but I can see one corner has a little light coming in. I put in 2 windows and here are 2 vents at top and one vent at bottom. i am getting 5 brahmas. The handi man said I need insulation and a light in there for warmth in winter. What do you think?

thanks

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal Flock!
Grab a roost & enjoy your time here!

 

[MattnCJ]

BantamFan4Life It is nice to meet you and nice to be here on BYC!

 

[RodNTN]

Hi and

Its great to have you!

 

[MattnCJ]

Hi RodNTN! Thanks and glad to be here with many like minded chicken loving people! CJ

 

[katie92803]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[CuzChickens]

Hello there, and welcome to Backyard Chickens! I am so glad you joined us, I do hope you will make yourself at home here. Enjoy BYC!

 

[sourland]

Your handy man doesn't know chicken husbandry. You do not need insulation or a light for heat. Chickens keep themselves warm by fluffing their feathers in a DRY well ventilated coop. It's damp air that makes them cold.