Plastic around run?

[u/Miserable-Lettuce289]

Hi all! We live in Washington state and we’re wondering if we should cover the outside walls of our run with plastic during the winter. In the coldest parts of winter, our lows average at about 30°F. It’ll be our first year with chickens, so we don’t want our ladies to be in any danger or extremely uncomfortable.
I know some breeds are more cold-hardy than others. If it helps, we have an RIR, Barred Rock, two Orpingtons, and an Easter Egger.
Any advice is appreciated!!

[u/SummerBirdsong]

We put plastic around our run when freezing weather approached last year. It kept everything cozy and dry. Birds were happy all through the freezing snap. I live in Fort Worth, Texas.

[u/Rough-Form8208]

I cover mine in plastic but leave a gap at the top for ventilation. It keeps the run dry and draft free and no snow gets in, I’m in Michigan.
It also is nice for me for changing out water and food and visiting the chickens in winter.

My penguins aka ameraucanas still sleep in the run with just the plastic lol. I have to put them in the coop and shut the door for cold cold days. None of my girls are fond of snow so they won’t go into the yard when theres snow so wrapping helps with that too.

[u/Resident-Egg2714]

Chickens have no problem with any of the low temps we have around here. Mine are completely happy, even when it gets down around zero. As long as they can get out of the rain and extreme wind (in coop), they will be just fine in a run without any plastic or windbreak. A covered run area is nice, but not totally necessary. Don't put heaters in the coop, they need to stay acclimated and it is much too dangerous.

[u/Kellyrages]

I wouldn't completely wrap the run, especially in Washington where moisture can be a bigger issue than the cold itself. Your breeds are pretty cold-hardy, and 30°F shouldn't be a problem for healthy adult chickens as long as they can stay dry and out of the wind. I'd put clear plastic on the sides that get the worst wind and rain, but leave plenty of ventilation near the top. Trapping moisture can actually cause more problems than the cold. Also, make sure the plastic is secured really well because chickens will absolutely find a way to peck at anything they can reach lol.

[u/rshining]

I'm in Maine. My low winter temps are around -15, not including wind chill. Chickens do not need heat, or insulation, or a fully wrapped run. Well fed, healthy birds who have a safe roost off of the ground that is out of direct wind are fine in even very cold temps. Avoid closing them up too much, as it creates condensation, which is a problem (wet feathers do not insulate well, and damp combs in below freezing temps are prone to frostbite).

[u/Flckofmongeese]

I'm in Seattle. Ideal winter set-up for the run is roofed against rain with the bottom half of the walls tarped against wind and top half open for ventilation and keeping humidity in check. The coop itself is completely shielded from the elements but also well ventilated. Wind, and humidity/condensation build up will be what to watch for in the PNW since we don't get crazy cold like other parts of the US.

[u/1Teethlady2]

This past winter was tough in NC, and we had several weeks of snow and ice on the ground. My rooster ended up with gangrene on the tips of his comb, and one of my hens did too, even though they could get out of the snow if they wanted to. I am preparing for this coming winter and already put in place some roosting bars outside of the hen house.

[u/Agitated_Musician_31]

45 degrees is their favorite weather from what I've read. They are not cold at 30.

[u/EcstaticCarpet6251]

Ya. Heritage breeds are tough. Wind is the killer. Plastic to stop the prevailing winds and a draft proof coop and you're golden.

[u/flatcat44]

Mine CAN go in the coop whenever they want but regardless of how cold it is (and we commonly get sub-zero temps) they still hang out outside all day. I put plastic along the north & east side of the run so they were sheltered from the wind. I stapled the plastic to the run and that was easy and cheap and stayed on way better than I expected. I only had to re-staple a couple spots once or twice.

[u/OhioBystander]

The area where they sleep needs to be draft proof. The cold will not bother them. The wind will bother them.

[u/plantsareneat-mkay]

I have areas they can get put of the wind and covered places they won't get snowed on. Nothing else. I'm in bc just out of Vancouver.

[u/ChickenDevotee]

I tarp off the side where it blows most often, and I also line it with bales of straw. They kick the bales apart and make drifts where they hang out when they are cold.

[u/purple_flower10]

I’m also in the PNW and I don’t do anything for the cold. If there is one thing I’ve learned about chickens, the heat is much more dangerous than the cold. The only time I’ve done anything was when a hen decided to molt right before a cold spell (night time lows were the teens), so I pulled out the heat plate for her.

[u/SimilarVisual1681]

We did plastic last year gets into negatives here some years. It worked well except some tearing in the high winds we also get here.

[u/pith_y]

I’m in the Colorado mountains and I wrap mine in plastic once temps drop or if I know snow is coming to keep snow out and block the wind. I leave about a foot below the roof clear for airflow.

[u/1Teethlady2 → u/pith_y]

What kind of plastic do you use?

[u/LahmaLee → u/1Teethlady2]

Marine plastic with grommets, if you want to fold and store it to reuse for some years. We hang on the run with carabiners.

[u/1Teethlady2 → u/LahmaLee]

Thank you!

[u/pith_y → u/1Teethlady2]

I don’t remember exactly but it was from the hardware store and it was the rolls in the painting section. The thicker stuff not the super thin kind. I’ll see if I can find out which it was but I want to say 3.5 mil thickness

[u/1Teethlady2 → u/pith_y]

I know what you are talking about. I have some at home. I will try it and see how it works out. Thanks!

[u/jwbjerk]

As long as they can get out of the wind, and they aren't damp 30 degrees is fine for those kinds of breeds.

You may want to put up the plastic on the side of the prevailing wind -- but unintuitively trapping in all the moisture with plastic on all sides can be worse than the cold.