Winterizing The Coop/Run: Cost-Effective Ideas Wanted

[kjorgey]

I'm in the process of getting to winterize my chicken run and coop. I live in the northeast (Pennsylvania). I have no intention of installing heat in either structure, so your "cost-effective" ideas & pictures of solutions to keep out the drafts and the sunlight in your chicken enclosures would be appreciated.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Good ventilation matters a lot.
Heat lamps are not necessary.
My method: How To Overwinter Chickens Naturally

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Basically I jist close everything I can. I leave the door from coop to run open just high enough the birds can fit through, and keep window flaps closed about 95% so wind and snow can't flow in easily

 

[aart]

Could put up clear plastic around most of the run walls, leaving top 6" open.
Coop is tougher, small, short, and not much venting.
Dimensions and more pic of coop, inside and out, would help garner viable suggestions.
How many birds?

 

[britinpa]

Sweet coop! Central PA here and first year chicken owners. Our outside run area is partially roofed and we recently stapled greenhouse plastic down the one side. It's not too expensive and you have a nice sized area that you could cover all sides if you wish. We also attached shade cloth on one side during the summer (which we are not going to remove over the winter) and hope this will stop the snow from blowing in that side. We're not installing heat either, but this past week my husband run an electric cable underground from our garage to the coop so we can put in a heated chicken waterer to prevent it from freezing. (we are going away for a week after Christmas and don't want whoever is going to be looking after them to worry about constantly checking their water if temps are below freezing).

 

[Sally PB]

I have some heavy duty tarps that keep most of the rain out, and are strong enough to handle snow. I will broom off any heavy accumulations. I plan to attach clear shower curtains to the west side to block the prevailing wind. Those are cheap enough ($12 each) that I can buy a couple more if I need them for other sides. The handy thing about them is they have grommet holes, so they're ready to zip tie in place.

I'm considering running electric to the run for a heated waterer. There was ice in the water this morning. I figure if I do, we will have another mild winter. If I don't, there'll be a lot of days when I wish I had.

 

[aart]

The handy thing about them is they have grommet holes, so they're ready to zip tie in place.

But only along one side, right?

I figure if I do, we will have another mild winter.

Doitdoitdoit!!

 

[Sally PB]

But only along one side, right?

For sure the length of the west side of the run. The east side will be 3-4 feet from the wall of the garage, so no need there. I might go around the NE corner a couple feet, so there is a good windbreak area from the two predominant wind directions. That's the corner where their dust bath is now, but when we move the coop/run, I can relocate it anywhere. Rearrange the furniture. Nice thing about $12 shower curtains is that if I think I need more, I can have them in an hour.

 

[aart]

For sure the length of the west side of the run. The east side will be 3-4 feet from the wall of the garage, so no need there. I might go around the NE corner a couple feet, so there is a good windbreak area from the two predominant wind directions. That's the corner where their dust bath is now, but when we move the coop/run, I can relocate it anywhere. Rearrange the furniture. Nice thing about $12 shower curtains is that if I think I need more, I can have them in an hour.

IME any kind of 'tarp' needs to be tacked down around all edges.

 

[ADKcluckers]

good tip for using a tarp or shower curtains or large sheet plastic - having done all three over the years for cold frames and mini-greenhouses and now my chicken run. get some long boards, roll the edge of the plastic around the board completely on the top and bottom so it is tight and can't slip off, then put screws through that board and into the frame of the structure. that holds it tight in place with no gaps where wind can get in and rip it (seems to always do that), plus it is far easier than trying to use staples or zipties - those grommets never seem to last long. I used reclaimed boards from wood pallets and 6 mil clear plastic to let light through, and it holds up fine in Adirondack Mountains storms and wind.