Chickens and Coops in Winter

[westlakej]

I live near Seattle Washington and the weather got down to about 10 degrees this year so far and 75 mile winds. Tonight its going to be around 40 degrees and 50 mph winds. I am looking for a solution for housing by birds during the winter. I am looking for a low cost coop idea that can hold birds through winter. If it cant I have a Mini Barn that will have show cages for them to go into. I am selling all my large fowl birds for bantams so they dont have to be that big.

One idea that I thought of was just a covered area with the side the wind comes from have a wall. Please post your ideas and pictures.

Thanks
J.

[robin416]

I'm not sure what it is you're getting at. Are you talking about an open walled coop?

My Silkies are in an insulated coop built specifically for them. I will admit that they also have a propane heater in their coop to keep the waterers from freezing. My Dutch are in an open coop of sorts with insulation on the ceiling and sides. Plastic during the winter on the wire doors and two lights hanging for warmth.

[Evy]

Insulation, heat, plastic & tight coops are the worst things you can do for poultry. Years ago,I had birds not only loose combs, but toes, due to my ignorant kindness.

They give off a lot of body heat which in turn causes condensation in a tight coop. The moisture leads to frozen body parts. All one needs is good wind shelter, good venting near the roof & a base heater for waterers. Flat, wide roosts so they don't curl their toes around it & can cover them is good. No roosts & thick bedding on the floor is better. Separate cages are not a great idea. Cuddling together keeps them warmer. In below zero temps, a handfull of whole corn late in the afternoon gives them extra calories through the night.

Places like Seattle have pretty mild winters ( in spite of the unusual snow amounts this year ), & birds do well with only good shelter.

[Bob308]

, due to my ignorant kindness.

.

I like that term, I will have to file it away.

Bob

[westlakej]

Do you have pictures?

[bbomber]

Evy knows. I have the same concerns with my 2 Pekin ducks. I have protected them with tarp wrapped around their outside pen. Heated water bucket,alot of straw. So far they are are just fine. If it gets too windy for my likings I'll just lean up a big board in front of their entrance. Keep them dry.

[Antwerptom03]

I live in upstate NY (east of lake ontario) and breed jap bantams and partridge cochin LF.
My coops walls, ceiling and floor are heavily insulated but the only heat that I have is from two 250 watt bulbs that I use for light in the winter. From Thanksgiving on I keep my lights on 24/7 to boost egg production. As long as the temp is above 20 degrees I keep my windows open half way and a ceiling vent wide open and the birds stay nice and cozy.
keep in mind my windows have a baffle to prevent the air from blowing directly in on the birds causing a draft. The end result is a nice steady flow of air around the coop and out the top removing any stale air.
So far this winter I'm very pleased with the results. The litter has stayed super dry which is the whole reason I insulated the coop in the first place. The small difference in temp make the whole gravity ventilation thing work for us
Only a few points froze on my combs so far but no drop in fertility and no respiratory trouble at all

[sassy]

What kind of liter do you use and would straw not be a good idea for a chicken coop floor? Thanks

[Pathfinders]

What kind of liter do you use and would straw not be a good idea for a chicken coop floor? Thanks

Hi Sassy,

Still wondering where in NKY you are (I'm in the Williamstown area.)

I use shavings from Tractor Supply on the floor of the coop that houses my large fowl. Straw is a bad idea for poultry housing because it can get wet and moldy and mold is very bad for poultry.

Laura

[sassy]

Thanks,
I am in Kenton County. How often do you change the bedding? Thanks

[Antwerptom03]

I have good luck with shaving in my small coops changed weekly and a mixture of shavings and horse bedding in my big pens changed once or twice a year.
Tom

[Glick]

We've made small coops for our ducks and some chickens out of skids. Take 4 skids and nail them together. Three for sides and one for the roof. This leaves one side open for the door. They,skids usually are easy to get for free. Wrap the whole thing with plastic, tacked on with the plastic ringed nails. Which you can get at Lowe's or another building store. Leave one side open and make a door from a tarp, wood, or anything you have. When it snows we throw the snow on the top and three sides. Place straw in and the area inside will stay nice in the coldest of weather. Usually we make the door face south or east.
JG

[Pathfinders]

Thanks,
I am in Kenton County. How often do you change the bedding? Thanks

It depends on a number of things: how many birds I have in there (it's 10' x 12'), how the weather has been (bad weather means they're inside more), and so on.

Generally, you want to change it when it starts to smell, or seems dirty. Every couple of weeks or so, I'd think. Once a month maybe, depending on the factors above.