The Poultry Keeper

camaria · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 6

Hello all!
I own a small acreage and am missing having chickens as we did when I was younger at the farm. I'm only interested in buying two or three pullets (Buff Orpingtons as they are supposed to be well adjusted to cold weather). With only a couple of chickens, I was intending to build a chicken tractor with 4'x8' open area and a 4'w x4'l x 4' enclosed coop (over top of the open area).

My dilemna is:

Is this a big enough enclosed coop for 2 chickens? Keep in mind that during the cold winters, they will probably spend all of their time in there.

Should I try to insulate the enclosed coop, or with two chickens and a smaller heat lamp in such a small space, would the poor girls overheat in there?

What is a good balance between proper ventilation and proper insulation in such cold weather (We regularly get -30 to -40C in winter here.

Does anyone have experience or advice with wintering such a small number of chickens in a chicken tractor?

Barny_Velder · Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 164 Location: North Wales Coast

I would opt for zero ventilation at night in those temps....otherwise you may end up being the inventor of chicken flavour freezy pops.

Bhindi · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject:

and thats definately not approved of!

mojo · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:35 pm Post subject:

try for 3 chooks together theywill huddle and keep body heat up..where are you? is it dry cold /wet cold or wind factor cold ? choose a big well feathered breed like orps or brahmas or jersy giants.........if you have lots of snow best pick a non feathered legs type.....................tellus more about your yearly weather and maybe can help more

camaria · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 6

I'm in Alberta Canada.

Our yearly weather....hmmm let's see. We have 90 frost free days here. Our Summers get up to mid 20C to mid 30C. Our springs are a bit wet, but the rest of the year, including winter is pretty dry. Does get a bit windy in the winter as well so wind factor/chill factor definately comes into play. Snow, anywhere from 1 - 4 feet, although the last bunch of years we havn't got much more than 1 foot. Since we get chinook winds (warm winds) over the mountians here a winter day can go from -20C to +10C and back again in a single day.

To sum it up, a lot of the time it seems like we get all four seasons in a day here:)

I'm leaning toward 2 or 3 Buff Orpingtons because they are good winter birds and fairly friendly. I am going to insulate my 4' X4' x4' enclosed coop and have a heat lamp in there. I'm guessing the girls will need some ventilation in the summer, but I'm mostly worried about winter here. I can't imagine those poor chickens will want out in the -20 to -40 weather, cause I sure don't want out on those days!

We've had bigger coops in the past with 20-40 birds in non insulated, but well sealed coops with heat lamps. They kept warm okay, I'm just worried about how a smaller coop in a smaller area will do. Thanks for all your help.

crazypianolady · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 667 Location: Nottinghamshire

Only 90 frost free days a year? Am I reading that right? I'll never complain about our winters again.............. (Well, not till the next one anyway!) Smile

mojo · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject:

insulate really well make lots of ventilation holes(cover with chick wire to keep out rats etc) about a dollar size in a line under the roof line in walls and hinge wooden covers with turnloks to seal them......if possible raise about 2 feet of ground insulate underside of coop and cover floor outside with chick wire..............remember to keep drinking water and electrics well aprt inside coop............france is SLIGHTLY warmer than canada ................but we wish you good luck

Petite Holder · Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 88

My parents and brothers live in Muskoka Ontario, they have some of the same birds people in the UK do and they all seem to be in good health.
They are all in a shed type coop with run attached to side. The run has a roof and three solid sides to cut wind down. .
Hope this helps... If you need more details I'll phone and ask them.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3022 Location: Monmouthshire

Orpingtons aren't too good in wind as they are very loose feathered. Obviously this is an advantage in low temperatures, but not if they are outside. What sort of chicken do others keep?

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Clawddnewydd

scuse the ignorance, but what is a chicken tractor? Embarassed

my tractor is too big to let the chickens drive it......... Confused

crazypianolady · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 667 Location: Nottinghamshire

I felt too silly to ask - thought everyone else knew and it was just me being shtoopid........

Bhindi · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:37 am Post subject:

I think its a term used by Americans/Canadians as a moveable Pen.

camaria · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 6

Yep. Its an odd name, I know. Apparently they call it a tractor because the chickens 'plow' the area they are in....lol.