Winterizing The Chicken Coop

Welcome back to Fluent in Fowl Language!  This morning there was a nip in the air, which reminded me we need to talk about winterizing  the chicken coop.   This is essential to keep your chickens safe and comfortable during the colder months. Here are some key steps to help you get started:

First, check for drafts.  Make sure any cracks or holes are sealed; this not only prevents drafts to maintain a stable temperature inside the coop but also keeps out mice and rats.  Cracks and holes the size of your thumb or smaller can be sealed up with spray foam insulation.  They make a special low expansion foam for doors and windows…so the frames don’t get warped.  If you have a hole in your coop as big as your fist, you can use 2 component foam which causes it to expand when the two components meet in the applicator nozzle.  The great thing about poly foam is that it’s waterproof, paintable and you can trim it after it cures so it is flush with the wall or floor.

The next method is setting up a wind block,  this can be something as simple as affixing a construction tarp or plastic to the exterior sides of the coop….or feel free to give me a call about barn curtains….they don’t call me the Curtain Queen just because I wear a crown!  Curtains are made with vinyl or polyethylene and are easily raised and lowered with pulleys and a winch to control ventilation…this is a great way to provide fresh air on those warm spring and fall days but still button your coop up at night when it is cooler!

This brings me to ventilation, even though we have been talking about buttoning up the coop, you still need ventilation.  Ventilation helps get rid of moisture and ammonia which can lead to respiratory issues.  You can add gable vents or vents at the top of the coop.  Ideally, you’ll have an exhaust fan to help exhaust the moist stale air and pull in fresh air from outside.  In the winter, you want to have at least 4 exchanges of air every hour. Give me a shout if you need help sizing a fan for your coop.  You will want to keep any vents or air inlets higher than the roosting bars so cold winter air is not blowing directly on the birds.  You also want to make sure that any openings like vents are covered with hardware cloth to prevent predators from getting into your coop.

I touched on it a little earlier with the spray foam, but insulation is important in the walls and roof to retain heat.  You can use foam boards, wool blankets, even stacks of straw bales.  Adding insulation will keep the chickens’ heat inside your building.  You can also add extra bedding to the coop floor to add an extra layer from keeping the chill from coming up through the floor.  You can also employ the Deep Litter Method for winter, which adds layers of bedding (like wood chips, shavings or straw) and allow it to build up over time.  Turn the bedding over with a rake or pitchfork to help decomposition.    As the bedding/waste decomposes it will generate heat to keep the coop warm during winter.  Since you are going to add fresh  bedding   weekly (or whenever the bedding gets too wet) you will have to clean the coop much less during winter.  And in the spring, it can be used as awesome compost for your garden!