Insulation and winter weather advice please

[vicky whitworth]

A couple of friends of ours - two spinsters - have recently moved to their new home, and are contemplating their first Winter there. Having read in the Daily Rage that there is expected to be a significant rise in the number of deaths this Winter caused by the cold weather they are worrying about what they should do to keep themselves warm. The problem is that their home is very poorly insulated. There's no insulation under the roof, suspended timbers floor with huge vents under, and the walls are single skin. Even the window can hardly be said to have double-glazing, and there's a lean-to on the side which has seen better days. The problem is they have very little money. They are dear friends and we want to do as much as we can to help. We have even considered suggesting they move in with us during the worst of the weather but to be honest their personal standards aren't too high and we don't want to fall out with them. It's a problem we've not encountered before so any advice you can offer would be much appreciated. We thought a picture might best illustrate the extent of the problem. Thank you.

 

[MdB]

I understand your problem. Helping out your neighbours is something you want to do but equally they come sometimes demand too much and relations can get strained.

In your position, I would suggest a nice metal built house which comes complete with inbuilt heating elements. This way they would be kept toasty in even the worst of the weather.

A picture will equally suffice to explain my thoughts.

20 mins per pound + 20 mins should about do it..

 

[Feltwell]

:lol:

Whilst I do like MdB's suggestion........

Does the roof come off (or can it be made to come off?)?

A sheet of Kingspan or Celotex would be very easy to cut up and line the inside with, and whilst it wouldn't give you ready-roasted chicken it would make it much more snug in there at night. If the chickens pecked at it then a further lining of ply or similar may be required. Don't forget to include the floor.

1" would be a significant improvement, or 2" if the space in the coop allows. If you've got a Wickes or B&Q Warehouse near you then they stock it, or any builders merchants will carry it.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/190545

If you can't get an 8'x4' sheet in your vehicle just take a handsaw with you and cut it in the car park, it's very very easy stuff to cut!

 

[Penners]

Maybe they need the company of a vigorous young man, to keep them warm on winter nights.

But if they feel that this menage a trois might lead to emotional problems, then would you perhaps be able to get hold of some offcuts of foam insulation, such as Celotex of Kingspan? You wouldn't need much. Cut bits to fit the six faces of the old dears' house and strap them on to the outside. These materials are 'closed cell' so they won't absorb water.

If you can't get hold of this kind of insulation, then expanded polystyrene packaging material would do. Or even a few layers of bubblewrap (the more the better).

Inside or underneath, you could put a tubular electric heater (if you put it inside the hut, be sure to isolate it from the birds, or they could get burned on the hot surface). These come in various ratings, starting at 80 watts, so will be economical to run. Obviously this won't deliver a great deal of heat, but it should be enough to keep the chill off the hut at night.

I'm an ignoramus when it comes to fowl husbandry, and I don't know the risks of an overly 'sealed' environment for your girls, but if you open up the available ventilation regularly, I don't imagine this would be too much of a problem.

 

[Flyfisher]

I'm not convinced there's much of a problem really. Our hens have never seemed troubled by winter weather, even when it snows. It's certainly important to eliminate draughts but they do generate their own heat and seem quite happy to bunch together on their perches.

Don't forget that there are plenty of smaller birds that manage to survive our winters without the luxury of a draughtproof bedroom, and smaller birds are more susceptible to heat-loss that a relatively large hen.

I wouldn't worry abut it too much.

 

[vicky whitworth]

:lol: :lol: :lol: Mbd
I'm sure they'd come to no harm at all in that nice metal box. The cat could join them (he's in my bad books).
I think we could do the insulation board thing. I'm torn about whether they really need help or whether they will be fine whatever the weather, if you see what I mean.
It's quite a big coop and only two of them so there's a limit to the snuggling. I was offered a fine gentleman but when mentioned to the girls they started putting their lippy on and adjusting their head scarves. I wouldn't want to over-heat them. I'd be back de-brooding all over again.
They have straw on the floor of the coop and in their next boxes. The top does come off so putting insulation board in would be easy.
Do most people just not worry about it though? Bet Jose does

 

[worms]

Do most people just not worry about it though?

We used to give them some curry powder in their feed and I think you can still buy a commercial equivalent that is meant to help warm them up.

 

[Feltwell]

We used to give them some curry powder in their feed and I think you can still buy a commercial equivalent that is meant to help warm them up.

Excellent idea - chicken already infused with the taste of tikka masala. I can see a marketing opportunity coming up here - ready-marinated chicken curry........

 

[philpjuk100]

Pic posted before,available on ebay but the jumper costs twice what we paid for the chicken!

 

[Feltwell]

I'm torn about whether they really need help or whether they will be fine whatever the weather, if you see what I mean.

I suspect the answer is that they will be fine, but it won't stop you worrying about them! I'd spend the £20 on a bit of insulation board to make sure they're snug and stop you worrying about them being a bit nesh*. But then I'm a big softie at heart.


* Northern word that means someone's a bit "soft", especially in relation to their ability to endure cold weather.

 

[Lime]

We used to give them some curry powder in their feed and I think you can still buy a commercial equivalent that is meant to help warm them up.

Excellent idea - chicken already infused with the taste of tikka masala.

and the eggs.

When my wife kept chickens on her farm they used to roost in the trees.
They were quite happy through wind and rain, snow and tempest.

 

[vicky whitworth]

Oh that's wonderful. Must-have wear. Wait til I tell the girlies.
I've always wanted to learn to knit. This is my excuse. Wonder how many outfits each chook needs bearing in mind how frequent their little accidents happen?

 

[MdB]

I don't know anything about chickens nor knitting (not that I would be willing to admit to anyhow.) but that isn't going to stop me from commenting...

Those woolly chicken jumpers look like they might end up making the chickens colder rather than warmer. If tightish fitting they will stop the feathers from plumping up and will reduce the amount of air trapped - hence colder bird. I'm probably wrong though.

 

[Feltwell]

They look to me like they'd cause the birds some stress, putting them in those. But, like MdB, limited poultry knowledge has probably unwisely not stopped me from adding my twopenneth!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Yes, bad idea to put chickens in clothing - they won't cope with it and will show signs of stress. Chickens need to dust bathe regularly, and access every bit of themselves with their beaks. The preening gland is just at the base of the back, they comb the oil through their beautiful feathers to make them waterproof. I put my hens into poultry saddles to protrct them from the rigours of the cockerel ( but midsummer they start getting wounded by him) but they frequently roll round until the apparel comes off.

Yes, birds can die in the winter, often due to lack of available water and food as much as anything. Last winter I found a tawny owl dead in the snow on the lawn. And many poultry keepers find their older and weaker flock members die over the winter, so you have to really watch your flock, and keep smashing the ice off the water, and making sure they aren't getting weakened by lack of food or colds.

The insulation ideas are great, plus make sure they're getting corn or chicken treat an hour or two before bedtime, as it's more heating than pellets. There needs to be a very thick layer of dust extracted wood shavings on the floor, and it wouldn't hurt to put newspaper up the sides of the walls.

My big fluffs have been fine, but when we had all those nights of -7, -9, and even -13, they had an electric radiator in the shed. And the little poots came indoors. Ordinary winter weather they manage just fine with the daily care outlined above.

So sweet that you're worrying Vicky! And I laughed so much at the first two posts!

 

[vicky whitworth]

Thank you Jose. I do worry about them although I never thought I would. I thought I'd lost them today. Called and called them, not a cheep. After 15 minutes of searching I found them marching up the lane towards the pub. They have been grounded.

 

[Penners]

Those woolly chicken jumpers look like they might end up making the chickens colder rather than warmer. If tightish fitting they will stop the feathers from plumping up and will reduce the amount of air trapped - hence colder bird. I'm probably wrong though.

I don't think you're wrong. Birds do fluff out their feathers to give themselves extra protection against the cold, and I agree that the woolly jumper would probably restrict this process.

So the chickens would certainly die - of embarrassment, if not of cold.

 

[Feltwell]

After 15 minutes of searching I found them marching up the lane towards the pub.

Hmm - the "Cock Hotel" is only a couple of hundred yards from me, I can see that if I get chickens it could prove to be an irrestible temptation. Clearly they think that "Old Speckled Hen" is marketed at them.

So the chickens would certainly die - of embarrassment, if not of cold.

Indeed. I think the idea of woolly jumpers for chickens started out when someone rescued some ex-battery hens who had next to no feathers left due to their treatment - then I can see that something to stop them freezing would be required.

 

[MatthewC]

Thank you Jose. I do worry about them although I never thought I would. I thought I'd lost them today. Called and called them, not a cheep. After 15 minutes of searching I found them marching up the lane towards the pub. They have been grounded.

You need to eat them before they escape again. When I was in Uganda some years back, my hostess bought some chickens from a passer-by very early in the morning (clearly just stolen from nearby!) and tied a lump of wood to the rooster's leg to stop him escaping. "We will eat him tonight" she said, and we did. :wink:

 

[tobydog]

For the benefit of Joce, if no one else, our three are now back in full fluff after their molt. One of them is a Leghorn and they have those big floppy combs which cover one side of the face or the other. She flicks it like a girl flicking a fringe. Apparently in really cold weather they can get frostbite and the treatment is (no not a hat!!) to apply vaseline. That should be fun.

Ours were allowed out for the first time the weekend before last but didn't venture more than 10ft from the run. This weekend they were all over the garden and followed me around when I raked up the leaves like seagulls following a plough. An hour later they made their own way back to their house, handfull of corn, and lights out. I'm sure they enjoyed it.

We took the dog out on a lead to see them and, whilst he seemed rather too keen for a good sniff, he was better than we expected. We'll do it every weekend until hopefully he is used to them. One of our retrievers killed two of our doves a few years back before she finally let the others walk around her feet.