Winterizing HELP!

[MurphFarm]

We live in Western New York where winters can get COLD! I am looking for advice on winterizing our coop (it’s in an old barn stall/shed) and winterizing our goat pen (also in an old barn stall with three walls and an opening to the outdoors).

What method is best for chicken flooring?
What method is best for goat pen?

thank you!!

 

[Bird_Lover_17]

Hey I'm from upstate NY too. I winterize my coop by keeping the waterers warm (rather by using a water heater or changing the water every morning). I use sand in my coop since it's easy to clean and keeps smell down.

Goats- I add in new hay/straw (yes they eat hay but I put the cheap hay on the floor and they don't eat it) daily. This is the composting menthod. The feces/ urine under the new bedding warms the upper bedding. The only *ugh* thing about this method is that when you clean out the goat area in the spring, there's a LOT of bedding. I also give my goats heated water. Personally, I like a 4- sided barn for my goats (since it retains heat).

 

[PioneerChicks]

My method: How To Overwinter Chickens Naturally

 

[aart]

We live in Western New York where winters can get COLD! I am looking for advice on winterizing our coop (it’s in an old barn stall/shed) and winterizing our goat pen (also in an old barn stall with three walls and an opening to the outdoors).

What method is best for chicken flooring?
What method is best for goat pen?

thank you!!

Post some pics your coop and run, inside and out.
Keeping water thawed is a concern.
Good ventilation is essential.

 

[Minky]

If you put some poly up over any hardware cloth of chicken wire, it will help immensely.
Last year my roosters (stuck outside in the grow out pen) had it way nicer then my hens who live inside in the barn coop!

Definitely buy or make a heated waterer. Big bale of straw/hay, add a little each day. Deep litter method. Clean 2 x year, make a day of it each time.

I house the goats with the chickens, the goats give off a lot of heat. I would get some free old carpet that a renovation company just pulled out of someones house and nail it up to the "open side" of the goat run in. Cut out a bottom corner (the goats won't like to push it with their heads) so they can get in and out without disturbing the carpet. Plus, once the snow is on the ground, and it starts to pile up, it will freeze the carpet in place, so you really need the cut out. Works great.