Farm critters and winter

[DavidBarkey]

Who here has or had Chickens or Ducks ect. How did you house them and what did you do come winter if anything ? Our clucks and quackers each have a coop and attached run with access to the garden area during the day . The runs are old portable garage metal frames with wire mesh attached (to keep the good in and bad out ) . For now they just have a couple layer of hay bail tarp on them for shade and rain with vent stacks just added this year. Last year was our first winter with them and rapped the sides with vapour barrier .

These pics. are from last summer .


Dave

[Eugen]

My wife's parents have kept chicken all their lives, still do. Their coup is made of cement blocks with a wooden door. At night they close the chicken in. One incandescent light kept on at night. Inside the coup there are wooden shelves like boxes and straw inside. Winter there is like here.

[Gordy]

I had a similar setup, with the roof peak running east/west. With the roof tarp, I covered 3 sides leaving most of the south open for air and sun. I say most because I used simi clear reinforced construction plastic for 6 feet on each corner of the south side, thinking that would keep snow from swirling around the corner into the pen.

Do you have heated waterers? We didn't, we just gave them fresh water 4 times a day.


Gordy

[DavidBarkey]

Gordy , Yes I have heated waters . The ducks is just a heated dog bowl , but have refill a couple time a day as they spill so much .

Dave

[DavidBarkey]

All ready for winter , best we could do this winter , not how I wanted it but still better than last year .

Dave

[Eugen]

Looks good Dave!