I live in Alberta, Canada. This year our winter temperatures were in the - 20 to - 40C range (including wind chill)January to March with lots of snowfall.
I had no bird losses over the winter. I had 8 Isa brown layers in an insulated coup with straw bedding. This coop has a chicken size opening to the yard (no door to close) and their food and water were outside. I brought the 2 silkie roos into the barn. They lived in a small area with straw bales on either side of their enclosure. When the snow got 6 inches high in the outdoor uninsulated a-frame coop, I brought the bantam wyandottes into the barn too but only because they had a hard time getting to their food and water. I drape a tarp over the open part of the a-frame. It cuts the wind and keeps a lot of snow off the ground.
It's hard to keep the coop bedding dry and clean. Most of the winter I just added another layer of straw, because what was there was frozen solid.
Susan
PS They're forecasting more snow in our area overnight tonight.
--- In CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com, "Stacy" <sljacobs@...> wrote:
>
> I live in North Pole, AK, and I was wondering if anyone on here has had luck keeping chickens through the winter. I realize a lot of people live in the hills but we are on flat land in the valley so it gets pretty darn cold. I have never raised chickens but I would prefer to do it year round if I get the chance to start. Any thoughts?
>
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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