We cover our greenhouse with a solar pool cover that looks like a giant sheet of bubble wrap. It makes a huge difference in the amount of propane I use each winter. My GH is constructed totally different than our chicken house. The cover keeps the warm air in the GH longer - keeps it from escaping out the roof vents and the "joints". Is your chicken house heated? Good luck!

No, the chicken house isn't heated. With the hay bales and the solar cover, I am hoping they won't need anymore. There are 75 of them and together, they should generate enough heat to keep the houses warm ---I HOPE.

Now I just have to figure out how to keep their water from freezing. As you probably have figured out, this is our first winter with the chickens!

If there's electricity, then a heated dog-water dish should work.

I just looked at your other thread on the subject and saw that there is no electricity, so scratch the above idea. However, I have seen in several bird-oriented catalogues, selling feeders, seed, etc., a solar bird bath/waterer cover. From what I remember, it's mostly a black plastic doughnut shape that floats on the water and gets enough heat from being black to keep the water melted. The birds can drink from around the edges. I don't THINK it's actually a heater, although there may be such a thing. While I would think that the top of the thing would have to be hard, so the hens don't peck at it and eat it/tear it up, you might be able to devise something similar. Since you would have the pool cover over the house, I don't know if there would be enough sun coming through to have it work, but it might. If you want a look at it, or want to get one NOW, you could Google for it or look on the Audubon site, or Duncraft's catalogue site.

Otherwise, I guess you will have to bring a bucket of hot water out twice a day, which could grow very old, very quickly.

Solar pool covers are designed for use in warm weather and for sitting directly on water where the effects of the sun on the plastic are moderated by the thermal mass of the water. Cold makes the plastic brittle and winter winds, sun, ice etc. will whip it to pieces in a relatively short time.

Actually, if you wander over to "Greenhouses & garden structures" forum, many of the greenhouse owners use solar pool covers to insulate their greenhouses.

They have to be tied down well, and they give directions and pictures how to do it.

Of course, you have to get the clear not blue covers.

M