We don't like to be cold and neither do our chickens. We must keep them warm especially in cold weather. The chicken coop needs to be solid. It has to be dry and they don't want drafts ruffling their feathers, either.
You'll want to put a good layer of straw on the ground to help with insulation. In winter, the windows of the coop should have Plexiglas over the chicken wire to prevent cold drafts. This will still allow in light.
Now for the chicken roost. What would you rather put your bare feet on when it's cold? Plastic, metal or wood? Exactly. The chicken's feet will stay warm if the roost is made of wood.
Make sure they have a supply of fresh, unfrozen water. You can immerse a heater inside the water container or under it so that the temperature stays above freezing. A commercial broiler/layer feed can provide the chickens with energy for maintaining body warmth.
You may notice that chickens will huddle together when cold. They'll fluff their feathers and tuck their heads under their wings. Combs are susceptible to frostbite. Losing a comb is painful. You don't want this to happen.
Regulate the Temperature
Putting chickens in a room that is heated can be quite hazardous due to the considerable contrast between the outside and inside temperatures. An additional adverse effect concerns bacteria which are normally kept controlled as a result of the cold.
These bacteria are capable of flourishing in the moistened heat and can cause complications in the lungs of chickens. If the cold is extreme, a high temperature lamp may be improvised to ensure that the coop’s ambient temperature is nearer to freezing, but the coop should not be warmed up.
Although there is a chicken breed that is specifically bred to lay in winter, it is common for most hens to stop or decrease their egg production during the winter season. In this kind of weather, the eggs have to be picked more frequently otherwise they may freeze and break.
Insulating the Chicken Coop
Although free ranging of chickens is more beneficial than controlled housing, it generally results in their exposure to adverse weather conditions, which results in lower egg production. If you insulate the ceiling and walls of the coop, you have the additional benefit of moderate temperatures.
If you want to save money on insulation, heavy cardboard can be nailed to the inside of the coop’s ceiling and walls. This provides additional warmth while equally protecting the chickens from drafts. Ample ventilation should be provided for the chickens to ensure their health is good and it also lowers the coop’s humidity. It is preferable for the coop to have an adjustable window that provides fresh air although care should be exercised to make certain that the coop does not get excessively drafty.
It is good to note that due to the high resilience of mature chickens, they are capable of favorably withstanding low temperatures. Chickens are actually more susceptible to extreme hot conditions than to cold, as long as there is a provision of basic shelter.
For plans that will provide your chicks with good, safe housing, get Chicken Coop Plans!
