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Posted: 4/23/2013 4:18:25 PM EST
We got chickens this year and will need to get a coop up. I have been looking at various coop designs. Anything I need to specifically build for cold , snowy winters. Temps here can get to 0 and sometimes -20 . Snow banks up to 2-4 feet deep during a good winter.
  I figure insulating will be needed, would a non elevated coop be better for heat retention? Looking on a map we are close to the 45th parallel , so any advice from those in similar climates would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Link Posted: 4/23/2013 5:30:21 PM EST
[#2]
Thanks , had that thread subscribed, but must have missed it looking tonight.
Link Posted: 4/23/2013 5:54:24 PM EST
[#3]
I kept the chicken door small to cut down on drafts. No insulation required but search the term "deep litter". I also hang a 75w incandescent red party bulb over the water dish to keep it from freezing.

The red light does seem to disrupt they're sleep some though. However, egg production doesn't drop off due to short daylight....like it would if I used a higher wattage water heater. Have had a small flock of leghorns for 3 MI winters now.

Leghorn are not a cold weather variety either but no frozen combs or health probs yet.

Welcome to the 2%.
Link Posted: 4/23/2013 5:59:41 PM EST
[#4]
we had our chickens in one of those little metal garden shed you get at lowes.
Cut little hole in the back that went to a run.
In the winter my wife put a heat lamp out there and they were fine.
Never had one freeze and it gets cold here in Ohio
Link Posted: 4/23/2013 6:09:06 PM EST
[#5]
I insulated 1/4 of our 8ft x 8ft coop last fall with two inch foam insulation covered with a layer of cardboard to hopefully stop them from pecking the crap out of it (no time to put plywood over it).  I also turned on a heat lamp when it got below 10 degrees or so and have a heated waterer which makes life much easier...  Well halfway through the winter the numbnuts had pretty much removed all insulation I had installed but other than that no casualties other than frozen eggs on the cold days.
Link Posted: 4/23/2013 6:28:26 PM EST
[#6]
Quoted:
I insulated 1/4 of our 8ft x 8ft coop last fall with two inch foam insulation covered with a layer of cardboard to hopefully stop them from pecking the crap out of it (no time to put plywood over it).  I also turned on a heat lamp when it got below 10 degrees or so and have a heated waterer which makes life much easier...  Well halfway through the winter the numbnuts had pretty much removed all insulation I had installed but other than that no casualties other than frozen eggs on the cold days.


This describes my 1st year as well.They pecked all that 1/2 inch foil board! Your chickens r spoiled though! Assume 250w heat lamp PLUS 120w water heater? Not like backyard chickens aren't a money loser already....
Link Posted: 4/23/2013 6:33:44 PM EST
[#7]
The heat lamp was only run like 10 nights or so but yeah for the 6-8 eggs a day we get it does not make economical sense
Link Posted: 4/23/2013 6:42:15 PM EST
[#8]
Without hi jacking this guys thread I wonder how many would be chicken farmers have been burnt by the insulation thing.I LOL when u mentioned it.
Link Posted: 4/23/2013 7:30:20 PM EST
[#9]
Quoted:
We got chickens this year and will need to get a coop up. I have been looking at various coop designs. Anything I need to specifically build for cold , snowy winters. Temps here can get to 0 and sometimes -20 . Snow banks up to 2-4 feet deep during a good winter.
  I figure insulating will be needed, would a non elevated coop be better for heat retention? Looking on a map we are close to the 45th parallel , so any advice from those in similar climates would be much appreciated. Thanks.


I thought you said cold climate!

seriously, as in the other thread, fresh air poultry house:



NO insulation, NO electricity or heat of any kind.  Healthy chickens, with MANY days below -20 this winter, coldest being -39, and well over 60 inches of snow (maybe more if it wont stop by may)

end of discussion


Loon
Link Posted: 4/23/2013 7:34:30 PM EST
[#10]
Nice set-up you got. Was wondering if you use deep litter method as well?

ETA: How do you deal with frozen waterer as well?
Link Posted: 4/24/2013 2:58:24 AM EST
[#11]
Quoted:
Nice set-up you got. Was wondering if you use deep litter method as well?

ETA: How do you deal with frozen waterer as well?


Deep litter-yes

Water-i just bring out a pail in the morning and dump it in a rubber bowl.  the chickens learn to drink when the waters unfrozen, and actually seem to keep it open most of the day, even when its cold.  when it freezes, just kick it out of the bowl and start again
Link Posted: 4/24/2013 5:28:26 AM EST
[#12]
I hang drop lights with 40w bulbs in our two 4' x 6' coops and in the colder/darker winter months put the lights on a timer to keep them on for awhile after dusk (adjusting the timer ever few weeks to keep the hours of light relatively constant).  I also attach some pieces of perforated cardboard over the windows to close them up a bit at night (wind break and to keep a little extra heat in).  The added light keeps them laying eggs through the winter and throws off some heat.

Roosters with big combs get a little comb frostbite, but otherwise they all seem to do fine.
Link Posted: 4/24/2013 6:35:07 PM EST
[#13]
Quoted:
I kept the chicken door small to cut down on drafts. No insulation required but search the term "deep litter". I also hang a 75w incandescent red party bulb over the water dish to keep it from freezing.

The red light does seem to disrupt they're sleep some though. However, egg production doesn't drop off due to short daylight....like it would if I used a higher wattage water heater. Have had a small flock of leghorns for 3 MI winters now.

Leghorn are not a cold weather variety either but no frozen combs or health probs yet.

Welcome to the 2%.


I used a 150W bulb in the dead of winter when it got very cold.  Now there is a 60W one but I'll be getting rid of that as the days grow longer.

Only a few chickens but getting 21 more in 3 weeks!
Link Posted: 4/24/2013 8:21:40 PM EST
[#14]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I kept the chicken door small to cut down on drafts. No insulation required but search the term "deep litter". I also hang a 75w incandescent red party bulb over the water dish to keep it from freezing.

The red light does seem to disrupt they're sleep some though. However, egg production doesn't drop off due to short daylight....like it would if I used a higher wattage water heater. Have had a small flock of leghorns for 3 MI winters now.

Leghorn are not a cold weather variety either but no frozen combs or health probs yet.

Welcome to the 2%.


I used a 150W bulb in the dead of winter when it got very cold.  Now there is a 60W one but I'll be getting rid of that as the days grow longer.

Only a few chickens but getting 21 more in 3 weeks!


What breed ya gettin I WANT to do about 25 meat birds this summer.......but haven't done anything yet.
Link Posted: 4/25/2013 7:07:42 AM EST
[#15]
Nw Iowa... Back half  (North side) of the red building is the Chicken coop.. Enough boxes for 18 layers at 1 time. Have had 30 chickens.. down to 15. Lost 2 in the past 5 years due to freezing. The only thing I use is corn bales and grass mulch on the concrete floor and 1 heated water bowl raised on a block off the floor. Cracked corn and puppy Chow. Used expandable foam to keep the wind out.

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