I am in hardiness zone 4a in northern Maine. It’s gets VERY cold here. Water dishes will definitely freeze. They don’t have to be toasty, but I don’t think -20 or whatever is a good coop temperature?
YIKES. I’m where it can occasionally dip to - 8of but that is COLD.
Honestly, I’m going to say you should ask someone local, especially as there are breeds that do better at those temps. Also diet considerations.
I was originally going to echo building along side but at that temp I get it.
Some unsolicited tips: I imagine they may be pretty much staying in the shed all winter. You’ll need lights on a timer for any chance at egg production. Also be incredibly rigorous about pests. The raccoons here would reach under fences, pull the bird to it, and bring it out in pieces. Chickens basically live in a low budget horror movie.
Oddly there is, so far, very little wildlife in the area. I definitely expected a far different scenario. I have seen ONE deer in the back yard. And that’s it. Also, my neighbor across the street has chickens running around free all day. They don’t get eaten and they know to avoid traffic somehow! The shed has power, so I can just put some smart lights in there. I was thinking like a mini split to keep it above Hoth levels of cold.
Traffic I’m not surprised about, but carnivorous varmints I would have expected. The best thing you could do for your piece of mind is to show up with a few brews/muffins or whatever and peep your neighbors setup and pick his brain. I suspect they’ve lost a few birds to something like hawks at the least (it’s just part of free ranging at a certain point), but certainly they could give you input on breed selection. Looking at what their setup is will make you sleep better without worrying when it’s wicked cold.
I think a minisplit would be crazy overkill (and would also struggle at the exact point you need it not to!), and would go for some IR bulbs + the pad water heater I mentioned before. You probably need something but they really are crazy hardy. You don’t get to be that close to dinosaurs if you weren’t doing something right!
I am in hardiness zone 4a in northern Maine. It’s gets VERY cold here. Water dishes will definitely freeze. They don’t have to be toasty, but I don’t think -20 or whatever is a good coop temperature?
YIKES. I’m where it can occasionally dip to - 8of but that is COLD.
Honestly, I’m going to say you should ask someone local, especially as there are breeds that do better at those temps. Also diet considerations.
I was originally going to echo building along side but at that temp I get it.
Some unsolicited tips: I imagine they may be pretty much staying in the shed all winter. You’ll need lights on a timer for any chance at egg production. Also be incredibly rigorous about pests. The raccoons here would reach under fences, pull the bird to it, and bring it out in pieces. Chickens basically live in a low budget horror movie.
Oddly there is, so far, very little wildlife in the area. I definitely expected a far different scenario. I have seen ONE deer in the back yard. And that’s it. Also, my neighbor across the street has chickens running around free all day. They don’t get eaten and they know to avoid traffic somehow! The shed has power, so I can just put some smart lights in there. I was thinking like a mini split to keep it above Hoth levels of cold.
Traffic I’m not surprised about, but carnivorous varmints I would have expected. The best thing you could do for your piece of mind is to show up with a few brews/muffins or whatever and peep your neighbors setup and pick his brain. I suspect they’ve lost a few birds to something like hawks at the least (it’s just part of free ranging at a certain point), but certainly they could give you input on breed selection. Looking at what their setup is will make you sleep better without worrying when it’s wicked cold.
I think a minisplit would be crazy overkill (and would also struggle at the exact point you need it not to!), and would go for some IR bulbs + the pad water heater I mentioned before. You probably need something but they really are crazy hardy. You don’t get to be that close to dinosaurs if you weren’t doing something right!