Winterizing Coup in -0

[TreeStrepek]

Hi Y’all!
I am attaching a picture of a large cage I am thinking of putting insulation on the outside of this & protecting with wood. In Illinois- it gets COLD for about 1 month a year. I thought this might help my dozen hens. It is a very TRYING stressful month when they cannot go out & struggle to maintain warmth. This would keep them toasty.

What are your thoughts?

Thank you in advance!!!!
Tree

 

[SmiYa0126]

Are you saying that this cage is your coop?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I am attaching a picture of a large cage I am thinking of putting insulation on the outside of this & protecting with wood.

How large? It looks quite small to me for a dozen hens. You mean to use as a lay box or what exactly?

Maybe I am misunderstanding.. DO they have a coop (or other means) to get shelter from the wet and wind? If so.. then (draft free) ventilation, not insulation is preferred. The chickens bodies are insulated with down and feathers.. which should be covering their feet when on roost and also able to tuck their heads into.

Moisture build up (even from breath) that settles on combs (and freezes) in cold areas is what causes frost bite.

Pics of your set up or more details may be needed like how old are your birds and what breeds .. IIRC @Folly's place has cold winters.

Do you provide artificial lighting in winter and what is your feed routine or other enrichment options? Are you feeding the popular cracked corn or scratch to "keep your birds warm" as the popular myth alleges?

Sorry so many questions. I'm just trying to get you the right answers and be helpful!

Hope you are enjoying BYC!

 

[Folly's place]

I also don't understand what you are doing here. Pictures and dimensions of your actual coop and run will be helpful, for sure. And that cage looks like a good thing for transporting a few birds, or as a broody cage within an actual coop, nothing else.
Mary

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Because you said "winterizing coop," I'm thinking your coop itself is not very insulated and you are considering an insulated cage/box inside the coop for 12 hens to hunker down in to get warm.... ?? Is that it? It'll be nice when you elaborate but if that's your thought, my thoughts are that they won't really seek out the cage warmth. I mean they "might" call a meeting all agree that it's a good way to stay warm but my experience is they are not that well organized. They'll be on top of it and all over the place, cold as the actual coop temp is. It's a cool cage to have on hand for sure but I don't really think it's going to be part of your solution for improving overall coop quality..... You really can't go wrong with rigid foam board insulation. It's cheap, easy to work with and really effective. I hope whatever the deal, it works out for you