Worried: is my coop going to be too big for winter?

[Chooksaurus]

When we bought our house, there was an old shed that had been semi-converted to a coop, but had some issues. I made a few modifications, including putting up an interior wall to make a storage area and block drafts from a warped door that still needs to be rebuilt.

The coop is a spacious 10' x 10', with a 7'+ high ceiling. At approximately 4 sq. ft. per standard chicken, that would mean we can reasonably house 25 birds. We currently have 12, 3 three which are bantams. My worry is, when winter comes and it plunges to -20/-30, am I going to have a lot of trouble keeping the girls warm enough? Aside from heat loss due to large windows, will a couple of 250w heat lamps during the night be acceptable? The walls are somewhat insulated, but I'm not sure how well because 3 of them were enclosed prior to me starting anything. The ceiling will have an R-value of about 30 by the time I am done putting up the rigid insulation and filling gaps. Ventilation is planned to circulate between the inner coop and the storage space so that it does not bring in the coldest air from outside, but rather has a little buffer in temperature.

I was thinking I could stack bales of straw against the walls to help decrease the air space, but that might make it a bit dusty and dirty. Any thoughts?

Of course, I could always get more hens to help heat the place, but then I might have to build a bed out there for me too.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Straw would attract rodents, I wouldn't do that personally. The birds will huddle together for warmth, so a heat lamp should be plenty. Mine had nothing for heat last year, and almost all of them are bantams. Mine also roost in the barn, which is open completely on one side. A few of my OEGB roos got frostbite on their combs, but everyone survived. They are much more hardy than we think

ETA: Granted, it doesn't get as cold here, but it still gets pretty chilly

 

[card5640]

A couple of heat lamps will do the trick no prob. Thats what I use here in Maine for a coop of the same size. Also I would use 2x4 for a roost that way they'll sit on their feet and keep them warm, I hang the healt lamp over their roosting area. You may need a Heated waterer. I do hate having to thaw the waterer. I also cover part of their run w/ plastic so they can go outside, but then again I do baby them too much.

 

[TipsyDog]

I would staple some heavy plastic over those windows and use the hay bales around the outside. It gets really cold by you! As in the previous post, yes, change your roost to a 2x4 with the large side facing up. They need to lay down on top of their feet to keep the toes from getting frostbite. Also, try to allow them to acclimate to the colder nights in the fall without giving them a heat lamp. And yes, you really should get some more hens!

 

[tackyrama]

Hi, from central MN. I built a 16x20 coop last year and I was worried about the cold too. Too worried as it turned out. Chickens can take a lot of cold. The main thing is having good ventilation. I built my coop with a loft and the insulated walls are 6" thick. The ventilation is handled very well in my coop. There is no condensation ever, even on the 6 south facing thermopane windows. The loft floor boards have a 3/8" gap between them to allow air to circulate up. There is one 16x24 louvre on the east gable where the moist, warmer air goes out. I have a miminum 6" of straw on the loft floor. It works perfectly.

I was so worried about thecold I even have a wood stove in one corner. I started using it when it got down to 10 F. I kept lowering the temp where I would fire up the wood stove. I ended up not using the wood stove till it got down to -20 or lower. Like I said chickens can take a lot of cold. It also helps if you have cold hardy type chickens. Personally I wouldn't use heat lamps. Too expensive and dangerous. You might think a wood stove is dangerous but it's all how it is used and set up. Check out my BYCs web page(s) if you like. I have pics and all the details of the coop const. Good Luck

 

[lilchick]

I used heat lamps but they only heated what was right underneath them and water could freeze a few feet away!
I started using the oil filled radiator electric heater.. It is safe and the chickens can even roost on it without burning their toes! Set it on a platform up off the bedding and it worked great...
I think it cost less to run than using heat lamps!

 

[2txmedics]

I have shavings in mine at the present time for poop catching...the whole bottom of it inside is covered in shavings...the nest also have it....I use to keep hay but it got clogged and dirty easy and stunk...not shavings....now Im in Texas, south..and we did get pretty cold last yr and Im worried about them because when we still had alittle cold, they were babies, and I kept them in my bathroom...the empty one...we dont use...

. Shavings are softer...but Im told hay is warmer???

so what can I do to keep the warm, a light which I did last yr...before I knew as much as I do now...now they will be outside....I know the light will keep them awake so how do I get by the stress of this???

 

[ChooksChick]

I use a 250W ceramic heat bulb that doesn't emit heat- it doesn't really heat the air, but heats via infrared, so it heats the surfaces as the waves hit them- I have it in a clamp lamp pointed at the roost (nailed to the rafter it's clamped to) and the birds love to sit in front of it- the other plans you have sound great.

I'm considering an oil filled heater, too- those are wonderful.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I think you mean doesn't emit light

 

[Chooksaurus]

Quote:
Not visible light, but it is still light...sorta

[Enter physics discussion of radiation versus light here]