Calling all urban hen keepers

[BedHead]

Tell me about your coop and run. Especially if you built it yourself. I need something for about 4-5 hens, for cold winters (-30C is common, -50C with wind chill isn't unheard of)

[Kelilah]

I've got a post about mine on my blog, from when we renovated it in September:

http://urbanluddite.blogspot.com/200...p-my-coop.html

[WorldsBestMom]

take a look at this. i think it helps
http://www.demesne.info/Garden-Help/...ning-Coops.htm

[salt_phoenix]

wow that's cold!

Make sure they have access to indoors at all times, and something on the ground-straw or litter in whatever you build. They will freeze their feet from walking on snow & ice.
I've had a 'roo get a frost bitten comb at temps warmer than that, and it's now falling off. but they do have big combs, and don't always go to bed. (thank you city lights)
A hen won't have quite as much trouble. They are good at keeping each other warm, but of course they are happier when they are comfortable, just like we are.

I don't have any great pictures of their sleeping quarters, but it involves (now) an 8'x10' indoor space (wooden shed) with roosts in it that they share with the goat, an outdoor run made of chicken wire 16'x20' and another smaller little coop that is only big enough for 4-6 roosting birds. I have one "flock" that prefers one coop and the other ones take the shed.
I have 16 chickens atm. They've had the run of the entire yard all winter though. I don't have anything out there to protect right now!
14 hens 2 'roos.