Winterizing The Coop!?

[poultrycrazy]

I forgot about insulation and i think that is a good idea.

 

[Zoomom]

I'd insulate first, then see if you even need a heat lamp. You may not.

I didn't last winter.

 

[Orchid]

I feel that insulation is a good idea for any housing, be it a human house, dog house or chicken coop, especially since chickens seem to be more sensitive to heat than cold; insulation also keeps the coop cooler in the summer.

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
Yes Rancher...lol...but Gramma didn't have air conditioning or an inside toilet either, and dogs and cats belonged outside only. I'm sure glad some things have changed

Love back to you, from me and my sissy birds...lol.

Maybe your Gramma, but mine did but she didn't have chickens that I know of. Now my chcikens may not have an airconditioner but they seem to be doing the inside toilet thing pretty well.

Have a nice day

Rancher

 

[MKKimmen]

Thanks everyone! I think we are going to just try the insulation and no heat lamp! My other question is about lighting then...if they are inside the coop the majority of the time in the winter with the window and door closed... can they see in the dark?? The window and door covers are wood and latch down, so I would think it would be pretty dark in there during the day even. (We are also going to put a roof over the run, so we can let them out a little in the winter too.)

 

[CityChook]

Quote:
Just speaking from my own experience, but my chickens refuse to go outside once it starts snowing. Their run is covered, but as soon as the snow blows in, which it does, they get all wonky about walking around in it. I keep it pretty well shoveled, but the sand is frozen and they don't like it. I may try putting down some straw this year after the ground freezes to see if it helps. Anyways, if their house was completely dark, it might be a really really long winter for them. And you likely won't get any eggs.

I don't know what part of MI you are in, but you may need to consider how you plan to keep your water thawed. Do you have access to electricity? I use a heated dog water dish from Oct thru May.

Good that you are thinking of these things now before the real cold hits.

 

[MKKimmen]

Thank you!
I just don't know how I am going to keep it light in there during the day for them in the winter? We may have to run electric out there for the electric water heater, but we were really hoping not to have to run a heat lamp all day b/c of safety and electric costs.
Hmmmmm...?!?!

 

[Montana cluckers]

just an idea, but have you thought about cutting in a small window or two and using plexiglass, just to give them natural light? I'm thankful that we used an old door with a window for our coop, so they will get southern exposure light during the winter. I'm glad you had the post about the lights/insulation. I had thought to use a couple of lights all winter, but I hadn't considered the costs of running them - so now maybe I will insulate. Hmmm, but then, how do you keep the chickens from picking at the insulation? I don't really wanna drywall the coop!

 

[Wildsky]

Heatlamps bring the risk of fire.

I winterize the coop by closing the window.

 

[MrsStephan]

I have fairly cold hardy breeds, but last winter I was worrying about them until I put on my jacket to go outside and check on them. At that point I realized that my jacket was filled with DOWN.(Probably goose down, but the same idea.) I wasn't so worried after that. I do use a warming plate to keep the water from freezing and they have a large window for light.