Winterizing my Michigan coop

[DragsDucks]

Hey gang,
So I am trying to think ahead for winterizing my coop, anyone in Michigan have any tips as far as materials to use that will stand up to the winter? Any advice helps and thank you in advance!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What does your coop look like? And what are you looking to do?

 

[Folly's place]

Pictures will help! I have hardware cloth covered windows, and upper venting, and half of my 'coop', which was the run, is now roofed, and totally hardware cloth on the south and east sides. In winter, we add two layers of clear plastic sheeting over the lower six feet of the open walls, leaving all the upper openings open. Wind and snow don't enter, and great ventilation. Closing things up promotes humidity and smells and bad conditions. Mary

 

[featheredhome]

I am in Northern Michigan and wondered the same. I have 4 Hens, 1 Rooster and 2 Khaki campbell ducks (not sure if they will stay) in a Red Barn II coop (holds 5-7). It is new and I am unimpressed with the quality material of the coop. I feel it will need quite a bit of winterizing. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Folly's place]

You will be happier with some sort of garden shed type building, modified with lots of ventilation/ hardware cloth covered windows. Mary

 

[aart]

I am in Northern Michigan and wondered the same. I have 4 Hens, 1 Rooster and 2 Khaki campbell ducks (not sure if they will stay) in a Red Barn II coop (holds 5-7). It is new and I am unimpressed with the quality material of the coop. I feel it will need quite a bit of winterizing. Any help would be appreciated.

Welcome to BYC!
Says it holds 5-7...but really only suitable for 2-3 maybe 4, especially in your climate.
Check out some of these threads:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/3722144/?q=prefab+coops&t=post&o=relevance&c[title_only]=1

If you can't swing a different coop by winter best bet would be a large solid roofed run and put the minicooper inside that.

You will be happier with some sort of garden shed type building, modified with lots of ventilation/ hardware cloth covered windows. Mary

Ditto Dat^^^

 

[bigz1983]

I'm from central MI and my chickens were fine last winter with no heat lamps in my non insulated coop. Just give them some cracked corn during the winter to keep their body warmer. Fill gaps with caulking. Keep drafts out. I put a tarp around the chicken run to keep snow from drifting in

 

[bigz1983]

I am in Northern Michigan and wondered the same. I have 4 Hens, 1 Rooster and 2 Khaki campbell ducks (not sure if they will stay) in a Red Barn II coop (holds 5-7). It is new and I am unimpressed with the quality material of the coop. I feel it will need quite a bit of winterizing. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[bigz1983]

That's what I kept my chickens in all winter my home made chicken tractor.

 

[MIchickenlady]

I have that same electric heated water container- mine still occasionally froze over.