Wintering the coop

[LynneP]

This is a picture-loaded description of how we coped, worst winter here in 22 years, and our climate is similar to yours-

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=7693

 

[BigPeep]

The breeder I got my chickens from says that they can just eat snow for water and that it is actually better for them to do that than try to provide liquid water. Any comments?

 

[LynneP]

I would never depend on that- layers especially, can quickly dehydrate and be very stressed.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
No.

The only thing that would be bad about liquid water is if you let it spill/leak all over (which you won't), or have a big open pan or bucket such that the chickens could physically go *into* it, which you won't either.

It takes a huge amount of snow to equal a small amount of liquid water, plus it takes quite a lot of body heat (i.e. extra calories that must be consumed as feed and then expended metabolically) to melt that snow and bring it up to body temperature.

Really, give them a proper waterer with liquid water. Unless you like playing "how many chickens will I have come Springtime and how healthy will they be", and buying extra food to make up the additional calories needed to bring snow up to 100 F (chicken body temp.)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[BigPeep]

Thanks on the snow eating question. You folks in Canada ought to know, eh?

On another note, I am getting ready to build the winter coop. The plan is to locate it inside of a solid five foot high wooden fenced area and sheath it in plywood with thin foam insulation outside the plywood and wrap it in plastic or Tyvec. I would put two inch foam insulation board on the ceilings with windows across the front on the top on the South that could be louvered to be opened.

Question, in USDA Zone 5, should I need any supplemental heat? I plan to put in a light on a timer to encourage Winter laying which could be an incandescent bulb that will generate a certain amount of heat. WIll that be enough?

 

[LynneP]

I'm in zone 5a, and the chickens will produce a lot of heat. Be prepared to feed more and to always have liquid water in the coop so they can produce heat. Anything to reduce fire hazard is better in the long run! Be sure any foam is either sheathed or well out of reach.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Assuming they are a reasonably cold hardy breed, and your coop is well managed (ventilation, leaks, sanitation) so that its air remains fairly dry rather than humid and condensate-y, you are unlikely to 'need' any supplemental heat.

If you are putting a light on a timer for laying, I would suggest having it turn on <however many total extra hrs you want> before dawn and then turn off once the sun is up, so all your added daylength is getting added to the early morning hours. This has two benefits: one, night will fall gradually and naturally so they will be able to get onto their roost properly, and two, the heat from the lightbulb will be added during the coldest part of the night. Not that you are likely to NEED that heat, but, if you're going to be paying for it, you may as well get full use of it

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[LynneP]

Pat makes several good points about light and heat. Our layer light is on from 5 am - 8 am and one added benefit is that your hens will produce most of your eggs by the time you arrive for the morning feeding, lessening the chance any will freeze or be roughed up by the hens' feet.

 

[CityChook]

Quote:
Zone 4 here.

Personally, I wouldn't rely on an incandescent bulb to heat your coop. Besides, with the southern windows, you'll likely need the supplemental heat over the night time hours, in which you wouldn't really want a light on anyways.

Will it be enough? Well, it will depend on how many chickens you have, the size of your coop, and how much heat is attained and retained by your southern windows. My 4 girls could not produce enough heat last winter to keep their coop livable. I provided 24/7 radiant heat (250 watt ceramic bulb that kept hens warm on their roost) and kept the coop around 10F. It got as cold as -5F at times (then again, it was -25F outside). Note that this was NOT warm enough to keep water fluid, so I also needed a heated water dish.

BTW, I have Buff Orps. I did not supply any additional light and they laid better over the winter than they have all this summer. Some breeds do better with supplemental light, though.

 

[Mahonri]

Have no clue what zone I am here, but I'm gonna keep the windows open and the fan on. They're gonna love winter here.