"Winterizing" my WHITE CRESTED BLACK POLISH in UPPER PENINSULA, MICH ?

[ladychicken&Ducklover]

I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, close to Marquette, and , like many Northern states, tend to have Many days of Negative temps and Several feet of snow.

I purposely have Cold weather breeds , however, an acquaintance had a 2 day old WC Polish straight run baby that she could no longer keep. So, being such a softie, I took the baby .

Well, 4 weeks ago , the baby Crowed. , " Phillip" is His name.

He is a FANTASTIC Roo : Super sweet, and LOVES HIS GIRLS!!

He "Protects them, finds tasty bugs and worms, calls the girls over and lets them have his "findings" BEFORE he eats.

Literally, like clockwork, he rounds them up, and stays on the ground floor Until all the girls go up their ladder , ( In the Order HE wants them to go up ), then he goes up into their loft for bedtime !

Needless to say, he's a GOOD BOY, and I WILL be keeping him.

So, I have a Very big concern and I need Suggestions NOW, because it wouldnt be surprising to gave snow flying within the next couple of weeks !

I need ideas about how to make sure he Does Not get his " Hair " wet when he drinks his water and ideas on how to keep him SAFELY warm and comfortable with the other chickens ??

I have 3 ducks too BTW.

They All live in a 12x20 open front "house" that I plan on temporarily putting up either OSB board or maybe Plexiglass for wall enclosures to keep snow out.

The plexiglass would be used for letting in light since we hardly see the sun for 6 months.

What would be good temperatures to keep the inside of their house at for the Polish ?

Any thoughts or other ideas to " Enclose" their Whole house?

I am just concerned as this is my First winter having chickens , so ANY Help will be greatly appreciated.

DD

 

[TDM]

Well, insulate your coop and keep your density about two square feet per bird. I sell eggs through the Marquette Food Coop all year round. Here is a north Delta County shot:

 

[taprock]

I have mainly Polish and they did fine last winter. We are not yoopers but just below the bridge. My coop had styrofoam insulation covered with cardboard for last winter. One of those lovely east wind blizzards in February filled my coop with a snow drift. Everyone was fine except a guinea who got frostbite on a foot. The only thing I had to do one time was bring my roo Al in the house and blow dry his crest. He managed to get it iced up and it was hanging in his face. When it was -20 I put a regular 75 watt bulb in a light above their roost just for some added heat.

 

[suki'smom]

I hang a few heat lamps in my coop for some added heat. This isn't my first Wisconsin winter with chickens but this year I have 8 polish pullets in my flock so I sure hope the heat bulbs will be enough.