Winterizing the coop?

[KimKat33]

Hello!

This will be my chicken's first winter outside. I am building their official coop here shortly and want some ideas on chicken doors.

I was going to do an automatic one, but I have a disabled chicken who just hops along on one leg. My main concern is that she would get pinned by the automatic door (which I know is unlikely but not unheard of).

I was thinking of just putting a doggy door and taking off the flap, but then the warm air would escape the new coop right? Does anyone have suggestions on a chicken door?
Pictures would be appreciated.
Thank you!

 

[black_cat]

I have not wintered over my chickens yet, but from my understanding, the coop doesn't need to be warm, it needs to be dry. For it to be dry, it needs to be well ventilated. Most automatic doors open in the morning and close at night, leaving the doorway open all day anyway.

 

[SueT]

Where do you live? Coops need ventilation, it's fine to leave it open. You aren't thinking of heating the coop are you?

 

[azygous]

The law of physics dictates warm air rises. Most won't escape through a low small opening.

But this isn't how you want it for your chickens. Ventilation up high is absolutely crucial so that warm water vapor from the chickens respirations at night is able to be carried up and out of the coop so that it doesn't condense on combs and cause frostbite.

If you had included you location in your profile, we would all know if the temps where you are get below freezing in winter and if you even need to worry about a warm coop and frostbite.

 

[PioneerChicks]

My guide: How To Overwinter Chickens Naturally

 

[RojoMarz]

I have an Ador automatic door. I've not had any one get shut in the door or hurt by it. Most of the evenings, they are inside the coop before the door actually shuts.

I have added fabric 'flaps' to the door opening. The flap is made from an old table cloth, each flap strip is double layer of cloth with a flexible (thinner) piece of polythylene foam slipped inside the fabric pocket. The flaps do not have a tight fit, and the girls have no issues going thru it. It does help block some wind out though.

 

[KimKat33]

Where do you live? Coops need ventilation, it's fine to leave it open. You aren't thinking of heating the coop are you?

I live in Colorado.

 

[KimKat33]

I have seen people use some sort of vinyl stips? Kind of like how grocery stores use in their freezer storage. Would this be a good method?

 

[jreardon1918]

We put up clear plastic shower curtains on the the two side walls to reduce wind and to keep out most of the snow. And we use a stock tank heater to keep the water flowing. The three sides under the coop have plastic year round. The ridge vet on the roof gets uncovered after every snow storm. The windows and pop door remain open 24x7. To give maximum ventilation. The inside temp has gotten as low as -4F a few days per winter. The normal low is single degrees F.

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[Cinnamon Roll]

I live in SE Wyoming and my chickens did just fine last year with my Pullet Shut door open all day long.

It closes slowly and makes noise so any slow chicken can get out of the way. It also opens for a short time after the initial closing so any stragglers can come in. Mine has a light sensor and I have it set to close at sunset. I’ve only had chickens shut outside when they’ve decided to roost in the pine trees

The only special thing I had to do was build a little awning over the top for snow and block the wind on one side. I bought it off craigslist so it opens to the right when optimally it would open to the left.