Winterizing Coop

[d_outcast]

This winter will be the first time staying home with my girls due to pandemic. As snowbirds, I raise chickens in spring to mid fall, then find them a new home before I pack my trailer and hit the expressway to Florida.

My chicken coop is built for warm/hot weather so I've been researching how to winterize the coop so my girls will not freeze to death by putting deeper shavings or straw in the bedding. Right now is just bare metal. There is a cardboard below the roost for easier cleanup. Every morning I take it out then hose the metal bedding. It's a daily routine for me and I'm happy doing it. But I don't think I can keep it up in winter. It is brutally cold in Canada.

The nest boxes has shavings but I'm thinking of buying hemp nesting sheets. I read that it significantly reduces time spent cleaning the nest. Also more comfortable, highly absorbent and keeps the chicken warmer.

The chicken run I don't know what to do. Should I put a roof or tarp maybe to keep off the snow from falling in the ground? I don't want their feet to get frost bite when the snow turns to ice. And when it melts, the dirt will turn to mud. Could they still scratch the ground/dirt even when it's cold or frozen?

Any suggestions or opinion will be much appreciated.

 

[featheredplanets]

Can you post some pictures of your coop? It’ll be easier to understand all these features. But no, they don’t get very far through ice and will want a sheltered run that won’t be full of snow.

 

[B-Goock]

Something i do is to put the used shavings from the coop into the run or add new when its been wet outside. keeps their feet out of the yuk and cleaner eggs. We don't get alot of snow here so it's not really an issue.

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

This winter will be the first time staying home with my girls due to pandemic. As snowbirds, I raise chickens in spring to mid fall, then find them a new home before I pack my trailer and hit the expressway to Florida.

My chicken coop is built for warm/hot weather so I've been researching how to winterize the coop so my girls will not freeze to death by putting deeper shavings or straw in the bedding. Right now is just bare metal. There is a cardboard below the roost for easier cleanup. Every morning I take it out then hose the metal bedding. It's a daily routine for me and I'm happy doing it. But I don't think I can keep it up in winter. It is brutally cold in Canada.

The nest boxes has shavings but I'm thinking of buying hemp nesting sheets. I read that it significantly reduces time spent cleaning the nest. Also more comfortable, highly absorbent and keeps the chicken warmer.

The chicken run I don't know what to do. Should I put a roof or tarp maybe to keep off the snow from falling in the ground? I don't want their feet to get frost bite when the snow turns to ice. And when it melts, the dirt will turn to mud. Could they still scratch the ground/dirt even when it's cold or frozen?

Any suggestions or opinion will be much appreciated.

I plan on starting the deep litter method myself as soon as our forecast says we will have cold enough temperatures. We are also making removable wood window panels to block bad winds on whichever side we need to block off. We have ventilation on all 4 sides. I also will be using clear shower curtains from the dollar stores on the run, they are more economical and work just as good as a roll of plastic sheeting or tarps. Lastly we will deep litter the run with hay, as the winter progresses. The chickens can scratch thru it and dust bathe too. Hope these ideas help!

 

[aart]

It is brutally cold in Canada.

What are your sustained low temps?
Ontario has a vast range, are you north or south?
Adding a nearby city would help us understand.

Yes, pics of what you have, inside and out, would help immensely here.

 

[goodeggsforyou]

I really appreciate this post as I'm also concerned for my chickens as the weather gets colder. Generally the coldest it gets here is about 12 degrees F. I am strongly considering getting one of those plug-in chicken warmers that look like a small TV screen and go inside the coop. They seem safer to me than a heated lamp, but I am a little nervous as someone posted on Amazon a case where theirs had malfunctioned and burned up their coop and chickens which terrifies me. I'm assuming it's a very isolated incident as I did not see any other remarks to the same effect, only positive ones. Does anyone have any experience with these? Also, I realize breeds vary but what is a chicken generally able to tolerate in terms of low temperatures? I'm sure their down helps but certainly I don't want them to suffer in any way. Thank you so much for any advice!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I really appreciate this post as I'm also concerned for my chickens as the weather gets colder. Generally the coldest it gets here is about 12 degrees F.

Also, I realize breeds vary but what is a chicken generally able to tolerate in terms of low temperatures? I'm sure their down helps but certainly I don't want them to suffer in any way. Thank you so much for any advice!

12F is nothing at all for a healthy bird in a dry, draft free, well ventilated coop.

Chickens have survived in an unheated coop down to -58F. Of course that's a very extreme situation... but point is you're well above the breaking point.