Winterizing the Run

[HeatherR525]

I was wondering when would be the best time to start wrapping the chicken run for winter? I live in East TN. First time with chickens, so first winter with them as well. Thank You.

 

[GodLovesU]

How cold does it get where you are and what breeds do you have?

 

[HeatherR525]

How cold does it get where you are and what breeds do you have?

i have new hampshire reds, easter eggers, australorp, leghorns and some mixed breeds, last year we saw single digits in the winter

 

[KimbosKluckers]

This is also my first winter so it’s trial and error here. Wanted to follow this to see advice you get. I just wrapped mine in a double layer of shade cloth on 3 sides…the one side that gets morning sun I put up clear vinyl so they can get some warm sun. I also got a heated water bowl which has been a lifesaver.

 

[GodLovesU]

i have new hampshire reds, easter eggers, australorp, leghorns and some mixed breeds, last year we saw single digits in the winter

I’ve heard that Leghorns are not great in cold so I would advise that you winterize.I asked just to see if you actually needed to winterize.

 

[DobieLover]

I’ve heard that Leghorns are not great in cold so I would advise that you winterize.I asked just to see if you actually needed to winterize.

They do just fine. I am in NY where we get much colder than TN and my LHs didn't act stressed at all.

I winterize when the winds start to pick up and drop the wind chill sub-freezing. I still haven't put up my tarps yet but plan to do it this weekend. It will be cold enough to justify it but not so cold my hands freeze during the process.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

It also depends on your landscape/wind directions. We are in central Indiana and we've already prepared our wind blocks for run.

Shared photo in wrapped for winter (I'm slow and on phone so I'll go grab that link)

ETA: we probably could have waited a little longer to wrap but our 10week old chicks are still sleeping outside the coop in their area(which is blocked from wind on three sides)

 

[HeatherR525]

It also depends on your landscape/wind directions. We are in central Indiana and we've already prepared our wind blocks for run.

Shared photo in wrapped for winter (I'm slow and on phone so I'll go grab that link)

ETA: we probably could have waited a little longer to wrap but our 10week old chicks are still sleeping outside the coop in their area(which is blocked from wind on three sides)

It also depends on your landscape/wind directions. We are in central Indiana and we've already prepared our wind blocks for run.

Shared photo in wrapped for winter (I'm slow and on phone so I'll go grab that link)

ETA: we probably could have waited a little longer to wrap but our 10week old chicks are still sleeping outside the coop in their area(which is blocked from wind on three sides)

Yeah it was super windy here and where it was really windy the girls went inside of their coop, so I started wrapping the run so I put up clear tarps from Amazon and I'm waiting on the rest. And I left a gap at the top for ventilation in their run probably about a foot down from the roof.