Coop ventilation in -20 temperatures?

Hi All!

Having some frustration with figuring out ventilation in these temps here in northern Wisconsin. Lows in -20 (not including windchill) and staying that way.

I hear not to put water inside.. but water freezes outdoor in an hour and chickens aren't interested in going outside anymore.

Would a fan in the coop help? Opening the windows would create huge drafts based on placement and other recommendations haven't panned out. Would it make sense to create holes in the roof now in these temps? My poor rooster has started to get frostbite and trying to remedy the situation ASAP. Please help! Thank you!

I live in a much dryer climate than you but I use a small vent pipe with (not sure what they are called) but vent cap that spins placed in the highest point of the roof. The roof is pretty slanted to help the humidity rise away from where the chickens are. I also have it fixed to seal if off with insulation if need be which it currently is due to -30 here. Haven't had any problems as of yet. I have been cleaning the feces out every day to reduce humidity. Hope this gives you some ideas.

Pics of the coop showing the windows in relation to the roosts?

As for the water, they don't drink while roosting, so you can bring that into the house each night.

jbrajdich said:

Hi All!

Having some frustration with figuring out ventilation in these temps here in northern Wisconsin. Lows in -20 (not including windchill) and staying that way.

I hear not to put water inside.. but water freezes outdoor in an hour and chickens aren't interested in going outside anymore.

Would a fan in the coop help? Opening the windows would create huge drafts based on placement and other recommendations haven't panned out. Would it make sense to create holes in the roof now in these temps? My poor rooster has started to get frostbite and trying to remedy the situation ASAP. Please help! Thank you!

Click to expand...

It would help us help you if you posted pics of the inside of your coop, the current ventilation, placement of windows, etc. The water can stay inside, I've always had the water inside the coop in the winter months, both heated and unheated.

Don't use a fan....too much air movement with that. You'll want passive air moving through, with fresh intake from the bottom and a place for it to get out of the coop at the top, especially near where the birds sleep. I don't know why you'd put holes in your roof...you'll need that to keep the birds dry, but holes under your eaves/roof line would certainly improve the ventilation.

Please post us some pics and, in the meantime, get yourself some castor oil from any pharmacy...it's cheap..and go out at night and take your rooster off the roost and massage some of the castor oil into his comb and wattles. This will help bring blood to those damaged tissues and also create a moisture barrier that stays put for awhile...it's also a natural antibiotic, so will help that area heal. Put some on the comb and wattles of the hens too, just for good measure. You won't regret that move.

Is there a door there that can't be seen? Can you cut in some gable vents?

The door is a garage like door located where the picture was being taken from.

Great advice on the castor oil- thank you. Does that need to be done nightly?

The only ventilation currently are the windows.. I could open them a little in the day and close them.. but unsure what the right ventilation to install would be.

On the right side of the picture there is also another small window that isn't shown.