What do you use to stop drafts in pop door

[palochknldy]

I was wondering what everyone uses to stop drafts in the pop door opening when it gets cold out? We are thinking of hanging some type of curtain so it's flexible enough for the chickens to walk through but yet stop the drafts from coming in. The only problem is that fabric will freeze and I'm afraid that plastic car was stuff will be too heavy for the chickens to pass through. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[patandchickens]

To keep strong winds from blowing through the popdoor, there are sort of two general approaches to choose from. (Plus, obviously, having the popdoor located on the S or E side of the coop where it is not *exposed to* as much strong wind)

One is to create a solid vestibule or windbreak type structure just outside it. The best layout depends on your particular situation, and whether you have to protect vs wind from ALL directions or just one; but basically you can just use hay or strawbales (well staked down/together, so they cannot fall over and squish chcikens) or plywood on t-posts, and make something that keeps wind from blowing straight in the door while still allowing chickens to go by.

The other approach is, as you say, a curtained door. I have to say that IME (it is VERY windy here) there is a real limit to how much good that does, since any material light enough for a chicken to push aside will also just blow in strong winds; but it definitely does *help* reduce the speed at which air enters. Some people do use burlap or canvas, I do not know what their experience is with it freezing stiff but in a cold climate I can see where that'd be a concern although the chickens might well be able to use it anyway. Personally, I use very thick heavy translucent plastic (shelf liner from Walmart, actually

) cut in strips maybe 6-8" wide and stapled over the door so that adjacent strips overlap by maybe 3-4" I think. The strip-curtain design makes it easier for chickens to go thru (and easier to train them to it, since you can either put up just 1 strip at a time over the course of days or weeks, or pin some of the strips up at first til the hens clue in), and the overlapping strips makes it more windproof.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Judy]

Most coops need the exchange of fresh air during the day, even in winter. The question is whether there is a draft on them when on the roost when it is closed at night. If there is, and it is coming from the pop door, you might want to use a little weatherstripping along the top and sides of it.

For good night ventilation, there needs to be a vent at the top and the bottom, so air will come in at the cooler bottom, pick up the moisture and ammonia and such, and go out the top.