Winterizing your chicken coop can be a daunting task, especially for first time chicken owners. What do they need? When do I start prepping? Are they okay in the cold? All of these questions are very normal.
While chickens are pretty hearty, there are some things you can do to make their winter lives a bit more comfortable.
In this post I’ll lay out my favorite, cheapest, and easiest way to start prepping your coop for the winter.
A quick look at chickens
Chickens are simple animals. They don’t need a whole lot, but can really flourish if you love them well and give them what they need plus some extras.
You don’t need to be scared of the winter, just prepared. Their feathers are great insulators for their little bodies and they can tuck their beaks and feet in to keep everything warm. In fact, chickens can even do better in the winter than in the summer since they have such a hard time cooling themselves.
One way to winterize your chicken coop
Let’s start with one of the simplest ways to winterize your chicken coop: start with the outside. This one can be done before it gets too cold, it doesn’t take much time, and it’s pretty cheap.
While chickens can do fine in the cold, they don’t love the wind. Wind can lead to things like frostbite which can be very hard for them to overcome. To start preventing this early, consider covering your run so they have a space to be outside and spread out, but also stay a little cozier and protected from the wind.
Things to consider
Here are some things to consider before wrapping your coop:
- You want your chickens to still get light in the run. If it is totally covered and shaded, this can make it extra cold and dreary. consider choosing a clear plastic covering so they can still get plenty of sunlight and maybe even some heat with that.
- Discourage drafts but encourage airflow. You don’t want to totally block off your run or your coop. There needs to be a space for some fresh air to get in and old air to get out. Without this, your birds are more susceptible to infection and respiratory diseases. So with that in mind, cover your run but leave some space open at the top so there is air flow without it being directly on where your chickens are hanging out.
- This could get expensive, so do some research and chose what is best for you and your flock. Large tarps and coverings can range all over when it comes to price. I have found that Walmart shower liners are a cheap and effective way to give me the same outcome. They are clear so the sun can get in. I can leave some space at the top of the run for the airflow to come and go. They also only cost between $2-$5 depending on the heaviness of the curtain. Click the photo below to see how I covered my run. I have also seen people use hay bales as insulation and wind protection around their coop. Just make sure you are checking them to see when they need to be replaced to avoid mold growing.
