Chicken coop winterizing

The cold is here, and there are many people who are facing this winter as their first with chickens they bought or hatched in spring. As temperatures drop, if you are one of those people it is important to prepare the chicken coop to keep our feathered food-producers safe. A well-insulated coop will help chickens maintain their body heat and protect them from drafts, wind, snow, and other winter weather. Regardless of the coop, however, there are other things you need to do to winterize your chicken coop.

Start by inspecting the coop for drafts or holes where cold air could enter. Caulk or cover any cracks or openings around windows, doors, vents, and walls. You can use caulk, expanding foam, or weatherstripping to seal gaps. Pay special attention to where the roof meets the walls, as the hottest air is higher and allowing it to escape from high will make your lowers levels much colder. Make sure windows and doors close and seal tightly. One way to check for holes is to wait until night and have someone walk around the coop with a flashlight along all the seams while you stand inside, checking for any light coming in. Where light is coming in is where heat is going out.

Check that the coop is well insulated. If the walls are not insulated currently, you can add insulation yourself. Fiberglass batt insulation is inexpensive and effective for coop walls. Cut insulation to size and slip it between the wall studs from the inside. Make sure to cover it with sheeting or panel wood so that the bored chickens don’t try to eat it, and to prevent squirrels from taking it. For the ceiling, unfaced fiberglass rolls work well. Lay the rolls out flat and staple in place. Cellulose insulation is another good option that is made from recycled materials like newspaper - it can be blown into wall cavities.

For extra protection, consider insulating the exterior of the coop as well if the interior walls are not easily accessible. Rigid foam insulation boards are weather resistant and can be attached directly to the outside of the coop walls. Make sure to overlap seams and seal with caulk. Every bit of insulation you add is an improvement and there is never too much insulation.

Provide thick bedding for the chickens to burrow into at night. Shredded paper, straw, hay, or wood chips all make great bedding materials. Aim to provide at least 6-8 inches of bedding to insulate chickens from the cold floor. The bedding should be fluffed and refreshed regularly to maintain loft and warmth. Do not use products that produce a lot of dust, as this can cause respiratory challenges for your birds.

Install curtains or a door on the coop entrance to block drafts when open. Look for heavy-duty vinyl or woven plastic materials that are easy to open and close but still trap heat inside. A draft stopper along the bottom also helps seal air gaps. Old wool blankets and furniture protectors work great for draping from the ceiling. For a coop you walk into, add a blanket about a foot inside from the door – this allows you to open the door, walk in, and close it without the chickens trying to exit through the door if you are being anything in such as food or water.

Check that ventilation is still sufficient even when drafts are blocked. Chickens need airflow to avoid moisture and odors building up inside the coop. Install ventilation holes high on the walls that are covered with wire mesh to allow air exchange without drafts directly on the birds. Or use ventilation systems like small roof vents with adjustable openings.

Provide a heat source. A small low-wattage heat lamp suspended above the coop floor and out of reach of the chickens provides warmth without risk of fire. Wall-hanging ceramic heaters are also safe for coops and provide a wide array of heat around them. Proper ventilation is critical with any heat source used.

The most important part: make sure chickens have access to unfrozen water daily. Use large water containers that won't tip over and change the water twice a day. Insulated water containers or heated pet bowls with nipples are good options. Check on your chickens at least once daily during extreme cold or storms. Remove any dead chickens immediately upon finding one to prevent spread of disease.

Christian M. Hartley is a 40-year Alaskan resident with over 25 years of public safety experience and public service. He runs a freelance business, Big Lake Writer, from home in Big Lake that he shares with his wife of 19 years and their three teenage sons.