Chicken Coop Winter Prep 

Deep bedding is throwing carbon (pine flakes work) to cover the chicken poop. The poop and pine flakes break down creating heat. The deep bedding method will add to the warmth in the coop. Definitely check it out. It works. It's NOT gross, AND you will get great compost for the garden. (Add this compost to the garden 3 months before you are planning to plant in that garden to ensure it has broken down.)

Use a 16 oz bottle of water with 2 tablespoons of salt put lid back one drop it in the water feeder To help your water not to freeze.

Doesn't she have the most beautiful green eyes? Never seen anything like that!

Put salt and water in a closed jar, like a baby food jar, and drop it into the water bowl to keep their water from freezing. Might not work in extreme cold, but saved me many mornings of replacing the water trough.

I just found your channel great information so I went ahead and subscribed to your channel

@9:43, I used a red heat bulb for my quail pen. Kept the bulb outside. It charred an area of the door, even though it was not mounted closely. It easily could’ve started a fire, and I’m really not sure why it didn’t.

Hi Nikki we have over 70 chickens, 25 ducks and 1 turkey and we are not ready to go outside in 1 degree weather to do chores but this video is really helpful I love everyone of my animals so much and winter is usually a battle for us just because of the freezing and coldness but we always do it! Thank you for this video and have an amazing rest of your day/night!❤️

I checked out several chicken farms that deep litter and it is NOT for me. I did not notice any more warmth than a thick layer of clean bedding. Also, no matter how much bedding they covered the poop with, there is still an ammonia odor.

Hey Nikki! I recognized your face from TikTok! We have been following you for a while so it’s super cool to see you making long form content now! We have 8 chickens in Alaska and this is our first year so we are learning lots! Hope you and your fam are well! 👋

I have a metal run, I used clear shower curtains, would highly recommend, cheap and simple😊

Thank you! I’m in Colorado and this is my first winter with chickens, this video is so helpful! Especially because my chickens are still very young, the oldest 2 are only 12 weeks old.

Thanks great information. I am building a larger coop right now from scratch and I am insulating my walls now. I have a 4x6 coop with external nesting boxes not included in that size.lean to roof style is what I'm leaning 😂to using 1- 12x18 exhaust vent at top of each side wall for Ventilation. Is that enough?

I am in Ohio as well, So I subscribed. I am a chicken momma as well.

Great comment reminding us chicken folks that a chickens baseline temp is well above us humans. They range in the mid 100’s and we are in the upper 90’s. So it’s easy to project that they might be freezing and uncomfortable based on our own tolerances. We are in south east Kansas. Winter arrived IMMEDIATELY couple days ago. I literally finished the winterizing as the wind changed from south to north! I have found that keeping the runs and walls that face north permanently covered or a wrap I can easily pull back and open in the spring and summer. It’s easy to forget how awful low temps and wind can get in the winter, while suffering in the heat. In the last two years, yes even in southeast Ks we had temps to 20 below F. Great video! The time to winterize really lasts all year! If you know the weather is gonna get ugly…..do the work before then!!! You’ll thank yourself. “Peace be the journey”

I'm in texas and I do deep litter method. It's easy. They're fine.

Love your advise on how coop fires can start. I never thought of feather fires or bulb explosion. Very smart advise.

Hi Nikki. I loved this video. Thank you I am a new chicken keeper and this has helped. Thanks again!!!!

So glad I found your channel. I’m in NJ, so we probably have close to the same winters. First time chicken owner and thank you for the winter advice. 😊

please what’s the name of plastic panels

Yes, I had a fire in the coop. Heat lamp fell because I had a flying chicken in my coop Knocked down the lamp in my show Silkies coop. It smoked them to death. I can not tell you how terrible I felt. I will NEVER have one in any coop. I use heat plate and the deep litter. It was easy and keeps them warm. I live in Northern Idaho. When I feed my chickens I sprinkle bedding over yucky spots when I feed them. Its easy

So much good info, especially since this is our first winter with chickens. Glad you're on RU-vid again.

Heat lamps and heat mats are both fire starters! As an ex-volunteer firefighter and electrician, I responded to too many fires, and/or was hired to rewire many houses, barns, coops, etc. for my comfort because of the fires they start. Southern VT (5a), new sub, and I appreciate your ideas. I continue flip-flopping between chickens and rabbits because we live in a rural HOA with rules (although lax) that prohibit raising livestock; rabbits are much quieter than chickens, but they don't lay eggs... unless it's a Cadbury rabbit. Be well, stay safe, and thank you!

What a timely video! Thank you for all of the great info. I am in Ohio as well and this will be my first winter with chickens.

I follow you on Instagram and just found your RU-vid! So excited!

NIKKIIIIII!!!! I just bought a farm in NY after living in NYC 37years and am refurbishing the coop to get it ready for chickens. You have been sooooo helpful! Thank you girl!

Thank you for the tips. I was wondering what to do in the winter. Here in SD we get windchills to -40 when the wind blows or with a blizzard. Would like to check out solar options.

I am so excited for your RU-vid channel!

Hi! I loved your video! Very informative. Can you please share with me where do I find that water heater that you showed? The link to amazon in your description box is not working. Thank you in advance!

Thanks so much for all this. We were about to spend money on heaters lol... I'm so happy for the alternatives.

So happy you started a RU-vid channel, yay!

Thank you! Great source of consolidated winter info!

I have sand on the floor of my run. Should I put hay or other bedding down on top of the sand for warmth?

This is my first time having chickens and I love your coop. I got several ideas on how to make mine. My question is where did you get the shovel for poop ?

Great video, so helpful 👏 😀

Great video Nikki

Great job Nikki 👏 keep going we wait for more videos 📹.....

This is my first winter with chickens and I am in long isalnd, where we could have a really warm winter, or really long stretches of 0 degrees. So my plan was to use a radiant heater panel in the coop. Your entertainment ideas are good! I'm planning to build more roosts and give them stuff to do in the run for when its too cold/snowy for them to want to go out into the yard

Thank you Nikki! We will be winterizing our coop soon! Very helpful 🐓

You mentioned putting a cream on their wattle & combs to protect them. How did you train your chickens to accept this process

Excited your doing RU-vid!

Hi my name is Doris I made a chicken Swing.

Please make more videos

What do you use on your $h!% Shelf? Is that sand?

Hot diggity, you posted a video!

Very helpful thank you

your coup is cute!

Good info & tips, thx ☺️

Why don’t you have any barred rocks? They’re my favorite.

Where did you get your scoop

When winterizing the run, do you leave any openings for ventilation? I heard if you don’t, the chickens can die

Thanks for sharing, Nikki. I am looking at getting chickens soon. We live in New Zealand so don't get as cold as you guys do in the USA but still loved all the great tips.

Thank you Nikki! I love watching your videos, I always learn something new. 😉

Some pretty cool ideas. Thank you so much. A few I heard before but a lot of new stuff for me. Thank you.

Love your channel. I live in NB Canada . It is good to hear your info as Iam a new chicken keeper

If you have no snow your not winter.thumbs down

I just started winterize my chicken and ducks coop I used tarp with The ties that have balls ties are great

Yay!! So happy for you!

I found your info so useful. Thx for sharing your knowledge.

As always-great content and presentation. Thanks!

Thanks❤

Nice

Hi Nikki! So excited to find your channel! Couple questions… 1- what kind of chicken is that at 12:31 in your video.. she’s so pretty! 2. If you only use a heat source on super cold occasions and then the temps come back to above 30°, you don’t have to continue the heat. They won’t become dependent on it when used that way will they. Say we have a cold snap for a week? Thanks for the good info…. PS no chickens yet. Been researching for 2 yrs. They’re coming in July! Beyond excited!

Hey how you teacher,make kids birthday cakes

Hi h, I just read you are coming out with a book about chickens in May🙌🏻🙌🏻 I wanted to know if it has pictures and does it mentioned all this information you mentioned in this video, including frost bite creme etc. I can’t wait to grab it, I have leant so much from you! You’re awesome!!!

Always such great and helpful tips!

This is very helpful thank you !!!

Pretty girl with useful information... One point....If you lose electricity to your house you are going to get cold if you use a heat pump or other electric type heat, but folks don't let that discourage them from using electric heat in their homes.

How do you do the grass what seeds do you use?

You didn’t mention you book. I found you on my free preview book. I did buy yours

Thanks and very interestin

That’s super scary.

Excellent tips 👍

How did you secure the panels on the sides?

😍🤩😍

I have 4 chickens - in a 21sqft coop in a 6x10 covered run. I think next spring I'm adding some heavy layers. I have a barn run flock, with one is a special bantam shorty, but beautiful bird. I am thinking of insulating and caulking most cracks in the coop.