Winters coming .... I need practical advice!!!

[valerie in CB]

Hello everyone! I am new to raising chickens, I recently adopted 6 laying hens of various ages. Winter will be here before long and I live in a cold snowy location!! Temps go from -teens to above 0 everday from Dec - mid April. We have snow on the ground from mid Nov - Mid May, upwards of 6' some years. I am, needless to say, getting anxious wondering if I can keep these girls happy, warm and content during our long cold winter. We get plenty of sun, its 9000' in Colorado! So they will be able to go outside almost everyday.

I have heard that I can build a coop out of stacked straw bales, - with plywood on top and another layer of straw bales. They bales will breath, so I don't think ventalation will be a problem - anyone? should I use a deep liter floor? Someone also recommend a heating pad with sand on top. Also, how big should the coop be? I will keep an area packed/shoveled for them outside. What about their daily dust bath? They love the dusty area in their area, and they bathe in it all the time. Won't they miss it? Should I try to keep it snow free so they can dust off? So many considerations!!!

Suggestions, ideas, comments, concerns??? All welcome!!

 

[Kevin565]

I live in a very warm state so I don't have any input but

. You might try the Managing your Flock section or the Coop section.

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Same here, we have mild winters, but have a look here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/392510/first-winter-with-chickens/0_50

 

[redsoxs]

Howdy from Kansas, Valerie, and

! I concur with Kevin565 and sumi about searching out the Managing Your Flock forum. I am in Kansas...it can get pretty chilly but nothing like some of the northern states. I don't provide additional heat and have never had problems. In fact, I think Kansas summers are tougher on my birds than Kansas winters. I don't do a lot different than in summer except closing the coop windows and making sure I caulk shut any drafts. You don't want your coop too airtight as it needs to vent. Chickens huddle together for warmth and are amazingly resilient to temperature extremes. Where are you from?

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us. x4 I have to worry more about the heat than cold where we live, but definitely check out the link sumi provided

 

[CayugaLover]

i think that you have some good ideas. stack up bales more than 1 layer thick on the walls and you should be okay. more urgent problem will be water... either you will have to buy a water heater, or if you have one use that, unless you want to go out many times in the day and the night to break the ice, and also, my chickens usually get sick more when it's cold. i hope your chickens are okay!

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

It is bitterly cold here with lots of snow, and my birds do just fine with no supplemental heat. The keys are keeping your coop draft-free and well-ventilated. I leave one window at least cracked open all winter. If you see condensation on the inside of your coop you need more ventilation. I have yet to have frostbite or illness in my birds in the winter. Birds acclimate well to cold, as long as you don't manipulate the temps and allow them to get used to the cold in the fall as the weather changes.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. I agree with 1muttsfan.

 

[karlamaria]

welcome to back yard chickens !!
we are real cold here also, lots of snow ! so your going to make a coop out of straw bales? what happens when the snow melts and water drips down ? keeping water from freezing etc. Can you build a coop to house your girls? or buy a coop ready made? winter is coming, I would recommend a real coop with 4 walls and a floor, this way you can add a water heater to your coop. also if you can add a small pen at least you can cover it and they will have a place to go out with out walking on frozen snow or frozen ground. if you lived in a warmer climate I would say a straw coop would be fine and adding a pen for shade ,rain protection in all weather. what do you have them housed in now ? colorado gets some good snow, you have a pen to keep them from the cold snow and wind? I used a dog kennel last year and zip tied tarps all the way around and over the top. my birds were dry and draft free all winter lol. this spring I had a wonderful pen built and with the slanted roof the show will just fall off. I plan to put plastic all the way around it stapled on and then they will have lots of light showing through. winters are long and there for you will want them to have a nice cozy place to roost and unfrozen water, and dry .this is my opinion any ways

 

[liz9910]

from California!