Hello,
I am in Nova Scotia, Canada. Our winters can get down to about -20 Celcius, -5 Farenheit. With wind chill, add another 10 degrees, that is the coldest and these cold days seem to come all at once with cold snaps that last 4 days to a couple weeks.
This is my first time as an adult to raise chickens. We will winter about 18 hens and a rooster. The coop is built inside of a large shed, maybe 20 x 20. The shed is on blocks with no barriers underneath.... the cold air and wind can blow under the shed. The shed is made of boards and air is able to blow through the knots of the wood.
The coop is 8 x 4ish and the roof is open to the rafters of the shed.
My husbands plan is to use bedding, lots of it, not change it for the winter for the floor. And then maybe vapor barrier on the walls and ceiling. I think we need to build a subfloor, use insulation pink and plywood. Then insulation and plywood for the walls and ceiling too of the coop only. I have also heard of stapling newspaper to the walls to prevent air from blowing through.
My objective of course is to prevent frostbite on toes and combs, prevent the water and eggs from freezing, but even more importantly, I WANT THEM TO BE COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY.
Does anybody know what temp will make a happy chicken? What temp do they like for egg laying? How many hours of light do they need?
I have an extension cord and the ability to add light and heat as I am doing now. (come on! it gets down to 1 degree celcius here now! that cant be fun for young little pullets!)
Input is appreciated! We are getting ready to do something in the next week or 2!
thanks!
I am in Nova Scotia, Canada. Our winters can get down to about -20 Celcius, -5 Farenheit. With wind chill, add another 10 degrees, that is the coldest and these cold days seem to come all at once with cold snaps that last 4 days to a couple weeks.
This is my first time as an adult to raise chickens. We will winter about 18 hens and a rooster. The coop is built inside of a large shed, maybe 20 x 20. The shed is on blocks with no barriers underneath.... the cold air and wind can blow under the shed. The shed is made of boards and air is able to blow through the knots of the wood.
The coop is 8 x 4ish and the roof is open to the rafters of the shed.
My husbands plan is to use bedding, lots of it, not change it for the winter for the floor. And then maybe vapor barrier on the walls and ceiling. I think we need to build a subfloor, use insulation pink and plywood. Then insulation and plywood for the walls and ceiling too of the coop only. I have also heard of stapling newspaper to the walls to prevent air from blowing through.
My objective of course is to prevent frostbite on toes and combs, prevent the water and eggs from freezing, but even more importantly, I WANT THEM TO BE COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY.
Does anybody know what temp will make a happy chicken? What temp do they like for egg laying? How many hours of light do they need?
I have an extension cord and the ability to add light and heat as I am doing now. (come on! it gets down to 1 degree celcius here now! that cant be fun for young little pullets!)
Input is appreciated! We are getting ready to do something in the next week or 2!
thanks!