Hi, I'm new to raising chickens and we are in the process of converting a horse stall in our barn into a chicken coop. I'm concerned about how to make it predator proof and how to deal with ventilation. Any suggestions? Also, any one out there from a northern climate - do you insulate? Thanks! Mary
we added 1" foam board to the cealing & we will be adding the same thickness to the walls when we find the time the thing is the birds will eat any foam insulation that they can get to so we will be covering ours with plywood however the plywood will also help keep things with big teath away from the flock what month were you planning on getting your chicks? we got ours in March last year. they spent a couple of weeks in the bathroom but once they got some feathers on them they were relocated to the woodshed good luck piglett
We get pretty hard winters (although its been mostly rain and floods this time so far) but my girls and boys seem quite happy just snuggling up with each other on the roosts in their coop. They have plenty of hay and sawdust, and I have the Vaseline on hand for any signs on frostbite. Luke-warm water in the mornings, and plenty of corn during the cold snap for fatty insulation. Hi from Wales by the way xxx
Hello from Upper Michigan. Welcome aboard. We insulated our coop in the walls and ceiling when we built it with rolled insulation. They are locked in tight every night too keep them safe. Their run is fenced in and roofed. If they're out to play, then Lily the German Shep is out with them supervising. She takes her chicken sitting job very seriously.
Welcome! I'm in Maine and new to all this too. We're installing solar preditor lights oñ the property to protect the chickens and hopefully the garden as well!
i haven't had anything show up YET with big teath looking for a free meal i hope it stays that way )))
Thanks. It's cold outside! I do see signs do frostbite (black spots) on the tip of their combs I do the Vaseline and their coop is draft free. But it's cold out there! Our coop is not insulated but deep litter seems to help a bit. I change the water 3-4 times a day and give them scratch am and pm. They of course have their regular food that I keep in their run.
I'm I northern Ky here. Our coop is converted lean to shed. All I have done is use foam in the cracks to block most of the drafts. The big vents have been covered for the winter. It's been about low 20's at night and my gals seem to be weathering fine. I have a light burning but its not for heat and no further insulation. So far, so good.
for now we just went with some of those pound in posts you know the metal T posts, they work. once i cut some small trees i'll make their yard much bigger 100' square would be great with plenty of places to hide i'll probably leave some of the little christmas trees that are growing in their yard if i just remove the limbs from the ground to 2' up they will provide some shade in the summer & some protection too. piglettr
we went with deep litter too this year it got below zero 1 night & near zero a few others. the litter is starting to freeze??? not so sure what i should do about that might have to check the humidity could be too high piglett
Re: deep litter I've thrown hay off and on into the coop for them...it has mixed with the dirt and dust and now is pretty deep too.
come warm weather i would say remove that hay it harbors mites & other small things that are not so good for your birds pine shavings are cheep about $6 or less also the pine does a good job of keeping the smell down which hay doesn't. good luck piglett
Welcome & Greetings from Ohio....the Buckeye state!!! I'm talking the "Buckeye Chicken" NOT the worthless nut!!!
