Winterizing in Illinois - coop heaters and other questions

[JennM114]

This will be my first winter as a chicken tender and we are gearing up the coop for winter. We live in northeast Illinois (Chicago suburbs) where winters can wildly vary between mild and practically arctic - most years, yo-yoing between both extremes several times each winter.

We have five hens that are all considered cold-hardy breeds in a walk-in 4'x8' open coop that is of steel construction (very similar to an outdoor dog kennel) with a smaller wooden enclosed coop (think bunny hutch) which are in an larger, free-range run area. We have securely covered the structure with tarp to block out drafts and hold in heat and have a de-icer for their waterer. I've read everything I can get my hands on, but am left with a few questions.

First, does anyone from IL (or anywhere with similar winters) have advice/recommendations about using a coop heater? Some resources say they are a necessity, while others say that with cold-hardy breeds you dont need one. If they are not necessary for my flock, are there any dangers in still using one? For example, asumming the heater is a good brand and installed correctly; do they pose a significant fire risk? Can the chickens suffer burns if they touch it or roost too close?

Second; we have the de-icer for their water, but how do we keep their food from freezing solid? I could find nothing even referencing this.

Third; We've been able to successfully mitigate predator risk, so far, by having an sort of floor on the larger coop dug into the ground. Nothing can dig it's way in or out. And after a close call with a mink wiggling through the bars, We also surrounded the lower 2 feet in chicken wire. However, we *have* seen a few mink, raccoons, and even one coyote approach the coop at night on our trail cams. Right now they give up and move on pretty quickly. I assuming that with winters reduced resources, these predators will become more agressive in trying to gain access to our lovely, plump girls. Is there anything else we should be doing to protect them?

Finally, our girls currently enjoy several hours of free ranging every day. How do we safely keep that up when the ground freezes and the snow comes? Or *should* we keep it up?

If I've missed anything, any additional advice would be most welcome!

Thanks!

 

[DobieLover]

This will be my first winter as a chicken tender and we are gearing up the coop for winter. We live in northeast Illinois (Chicago suburbs) where winters can wildly vary between mild and practically arctic - most years, yo-yoing between both extremes several times each winter.

We have five hens that are all considered cold-hardy breeds in a walk-in 4'x8' open coop that is of steel construction (very similar to an outdoor dog kennel) with a smaller wooden enclosed coop (think bunny hutch) which are in an larger, free-range run area. We have securely covered the structure with tarp to block out drafts and hold in heat and have a de-icer for their waterer. I've read everything I can get my hands on, but am left with a few questions.

First, does anyone from IL (or anywhere with similar winters) have advice/recommendations about using a coop heater? Some resources say they are a necessity, while others say that with cold-hardy breeds you dont need one. If they are not necessary for my flock, are there any dangers in still using one? For example, asumming the heater is a good brand and installed correctly; do they pose a significant fire risk? Can the chickens suffer burns if they touch it or roost too close?

Second; we have the de-icer for their water, but how do we keep their food from freezing solid? I could find nothing even referencing this.

Third; We've been able to successfully mitigate predator risk, so far, by having an sort of floor on the larger coop dug into the ground. Nothing can dig it's way in or out. And after a close call with a mink wiggling through the bars, We also surrounded the lower 2 feet in chicken wire. However, we *have* seen a few mink, raccoons, and even one coyote approach the coop at night on our trail cams. Right now they give up and move on pretty quickly. I assuming that with winters reduced resources, these predators will become more agressive in trying to gain access to our lovely, plump girls. Is there anything else we should be doing to protect them?

Finally, our girls currently enjoy several hours of free ranging every day. How do we safely keep that up when the ground freezes and the snow comes? Or *should* we keep it up?

If I've missed anything, any additional advice would be most welcome!

Thanks!

Chicken wire will not hold up or keep anything but the smallest predator out for very long. 1/2" hardware cloth will.
Heat is not required in your climate.
A DRY, well ventilated coop with no drafts at roost level that are strong enough to open feathers are required. You shouldn't need supplemental heat.
Make sure the flock has deep thick fluffy dry litter in their run and coop and they will stay warm.
Make sure they go to roost with their crops stuffed full so they can stay warm by digesting crop contents during the night and make sure they have food as soon as they are off the roost in the morning.
Your steel roof may condense water vapor and drip back down on the birds. Did you install the steel roof over plywood or over purlins?
What are you feeding that you feel the food would freeze? Most here feed dry commercial pellets or crumble. I do feed a mix of that and homemade fermented feed. The fermented feed goes in a heated dog water bowl. You can't keep the birds from scratching it out but it works to keep it from freezing solid.
Most birds will not venture out far in the snow. My flock would so they could get to the neighbors house. Since being penned in, they won't go out of their run unless they can see patches of grass through the snow.
If your flock has overhead cover during the winter, you could shovel paths through the snow for them but as always, there is risk of predation when they are out.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I built my own coop to by a walk-in coop. I choose to have a heat lamp installed and ready to use on those -0F days, weeks, months. It really depends on how cold the coop is. I have a thermometer in the coop to help me figure this out.
You don't have to worry about the food freezing unless you make a mash.
My flock isn't allowed to free range during the winter. I winterize the entire coop and run so that they hardly have snow in the run unless I shovel some in for them to eat. I'm not sure of chicken feet do in the snow on cold days, I'm always worried about frostbite.
My coop is for the most part predator proof, if a bear wants to get in, it will get into anything.
The only predators in the winter up hear are weasels, raptors, coyotes, wolves, rats. And none of these can get the flock since they don't free range.
I hope this helps!

 

[aart]

have advice/recommendations about using a coop heater?

Just don't.
Your enclosure may not hold up to to strong winds and snow,
not will it 'hold' any heat....there will be great ventilation tho.
If you keep them dry and out of the winds, their feathers will keep them warm.
I'd strongly suggest a secure and solid walled coop for at night.....it needs ventilation too.
What does this bunny hutch look like?
Dimensions and pics?

we have the de-icer for their water, but how do we keep their food from freezing solid?

If the feed is dry it won't freeze.

And after a recent close call with a mink wiggling through the bars, we also surrounded the lower 2 feet in chicken wire.

Mink can easily climb 2 feet...and chew thru chicken wire.

Finally, our girls currently enjoy several hours of free ranging every day. How do we safely keep that up when the ground freezes and the snow comes?

They may be fine with some snow and frozen ground, won't be much 'fun' for them but <shrugs>

 

[Acre4Me]

So, they roost in the bunny hutch?

I see the tarp does not go to the ground in the pic you posted (at the back of the run). Is this bc there is a shed or building in that side?

have you assessed where the prevailing winter winds come from? You will want to block those winds.

is there any roof over the enclosure/run? Chickens are pretty funny about snow...they generally don’t like it-it is new and different and chickens don’t like change. They will stay in the coop and avoid the snow, even forgoing food and water to avoid the snow. Of course, they will eventually get used to the snow, but it really freaks them out at first, and by “at first”, I mean the first few days, and again if there is a break with no snow, then it snows again. So, for the short term, no reason you can’t add an OSB or plywood piece to provide a roof Off of the bunny hutch/coop/roost. Just secure it so it doesn’t slip or fall.

coop heater: hard to say, not sure what you are heating. but, in general, a heater is not needed. Also most will indicate not to use extension cords, but if you use extension cords For anything (such as your water heater/deicer), be mindful of using outdoor rated of the proper gauge and load, using the shortest cord that works.

I don’t have experience with minks, so no advice there. We (ourselves and 2 neighbors) had to kill 10 raccoons a few months ago bc they ripped apart my neighbors entire flock over 2 nights. So, a trap and a .22 are helpful in such situations.

 

[jreardon1918]

I agree that a heater is probably not needed. You are close to Chicago, I am close to Boston. I think the temps are "close". Our hens have done OK without heat. We have a heated water source and keep the food dry. So neither freeze. We have experienced a few dips below zero F. All hens survived.

 

[SueT]

You don't need a coop heater. Just like the wild birds who live in your area all year, your chickens have down and feathers to keep them warm.

 

[JennM114]

Thank you sonmicj for your response. I will definitely be adding hardware cloth to my next shopping list.

Your steel roof may condense water vapor and drip back down on the birds. Did you install the steel roof over plywood or over purlins?

The bars/walls are steel, the roof is made of tarpaulin and came with the kit

What are you feeding that you feel the food would freeze?

Primarily, we feed the dry commercial crumble, but also supplement their diet with lots of fresh fruit and veg, yogurt, scrambled egg, etc. I'm mainly concerned about that aspect, considering their foraging opportunities will all be frozen and covered in snow.


Thanks again!

 

[JennM114]

Thank ypu so much for your response

Just don't.
Your enclosure may not hold up to to strong winds and snow,
not will it 'hold' any heat....there will be great ventilation tho.
If you keep them dry and out of the winds, their feathers will keep them warm.
I'd strongly suggest a secure and solid walled coop for at night.....it needs ventilation too.
What does this bunny hutch look like?
Dimensions and pics?

I dont recall the exact dimentions, but the hutch is about 2' tall, 1.5' deep, and 4' wide and it's raised 3 feet off of the ground. This is what it looked like before we added the bedding and installed it in the coop.

Would we be better off securing plywood around the walk-in coop for the window, rather than the tarp?

Thanks!

 

[JennM114]

Thank you!