How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Winterized Coop

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Re: [CHICKENS-101] Winterized Coop

Hi Deb,

Thanks for the input. I find it fascinating that she could survive alone in a high wind environment alone. Must be their feathers protect them from wind chill in addition to being excellent insulators.

Best Wishes,
Sam

________________________________
From: Deborah Garland <nopper@ripnet.com>
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2012 9:15 AM
Subject: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Winterized Coop

Hi Sam,
We live north of you in Ontario and our coop has no insulation at all,
just a heat lamp in the winter. I was always worried about my hens
during the winter but last year one of my birds taught me a valuable lesson.

Little Brown Hen, yeah original I know, but she is small and brown -
lived the whole winter in the trees. For some reason she refused to come
into the coop. We open the coop door in the winter during the day and
she would fly down from the trees and eat and drink with the flock but
come dark she would head for the trees to sleep. We tried catching her
but she is too fast and wouldn't be caught. We left a shed door cracked
open at night and a few really cold nights she did sleep in the shed but
most of the time she spent in the trees. She was fine! She is still
sleeping in the trees but does lay her eggs in the nest boxes. Funny
hen, I really wish she could talk and tell me what she doesn't like
about the coop at night.

She taught me that hens are much more hardy than I ever imagined and
don't need plush accommodations to thrive.

I would say no to the insulation and just go with a heat lamp and maybe
get an heated water bucket so they have warm water.

Debbie