MayaK Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 Hello! This is our first winter with our two Rhode Island Reds. They have an Eglu go up and two metre run. They have a nice fenced off area of the garden they wander in and we shut them in their run at dusk. We live in central Scotland and the weather doesn't usually go below -3C at the coldest. We have a big garage which has a back door onto the fenced off garden area. Should I move the whole coop and run into the garage in the winter? We don't have a car in the garage so they won't be bothered by fumes. We would let them out into their garden area in daylight hours. Or would they prefer their coop and run to be outside? I thought if the run was inside, it would at least be dry and sheltered from the wind. Thanks for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 If -3 is the coldest it gets, there is absolutely no reason to put them in the garage. Chickens are covered in their own duvet! It is worth investing in a good cover for their run. Keeping the run dry is important, you don’t want to have it turn into a muddy mess. The Cube 2 m clear covers fit quite nicely over a Go Up run. You need at least one per meter as they are slightly narrower than the Go Up run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 Surely it gets colder than that - I live in Cornwall and it gets down to that some nights. Anyway - they’ll be fine outdoors at quite a lot colder than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayaK Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 Thanks guys! I worry about them so much, it's like having a baby - are they warm, are they hungry, are they happy? 😂 We got them originally for my 12 year old who loves all birds and is good at taking care of animals but now the whole family loves them. I was thinking of getting the extreme weather blanket for them as well but maybe not needed? My other plan was to built a roof off the end of the garage and put the coop under there so they could be dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 If you start building, why not a permanent walk in run with fixed roof? Will be a good thing year round. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 I don’t think you’ll need the extreme temperature blanket - there are concerns that this can reduce ventilation too much. Keeping them dry is a good idea though - mine have a tarpaulin over their run, and even bough they generally don’t like being shut in the run, if they’re free ranging and it starts to rain they all leg it in their, so they clearly prefer to stay dry. I agree with CT too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayaK Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 Thanks for the info. I can't build anything permanent now because garage is set to be torn down and rebuilt. We may found a way of incorporating a permanent cover / run when we do that. I'm imagining the chooks running for cover when it rains. They are so funny when they run. This morning was quite chilly and they initially refused to come out but were enticed by food. So, I will not worry so much about cold and set about dry proofing an area for them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 On 10/2/2020 at 10:15 AM, MayaK said: This morning was quite chilly and they initially refused to come out but were enticed by food. Wait until they see snow. Mine are terrified of it and won't come out even for food 🙄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
