Bunkhouse Conversion

[Chickenshiot]

See my chickens and their new home I raised from incubator.

 

[cavemanrich]

It is nice housing for your flock.
Here are some of my thoughts.
I do not see any ventilation. I do see windows, but unless they are opened, and protected from predators breaking in, they are just providing natural daylight. (which is a GOOD THING. )

I do see quite a few chickens there. They do all poop on the floor. Poop generates ammonia. Ammonia is one thing that small chicken lungs do not NEED. That is why continuous ventilation is SOOOOOOO important.

You don't have your location in your profile, or posting. I understand that you are New Here. Without your general location, It is difficult to offer advice. Especially with weather topics, and predator topics.
And finally do ask whatever questions you may have. There is a whole community of knowledgeable peeps that can advise you on correct action to take.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[Chickenshiot]

It is nice housing for your flock.
Here are some of my thoughts.
I do not see any ventilation. I do see windows, but unless they are opened, and protected from predators breaking in, they are just providing natural daylight. (which is a GOOD THING. )

I do see quite a few chickens there. They do all poop on the floor. Poop generates ammonia. Ammonia is one thing that small chicken lungs do not NEED. That is why continuous ventilation is SOOOOOOO important.

You don't have your location in your profile, or posting. I understand that you are New Here. Without your general location, It is difficult to offer advice. Especially with weather topics, and predator topics.
And finally do ask whatever questions you may have. There is a whole community of knowledgeable peeps that can advise you on correct action to take.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

Thank you for the reply and pardon me for being rather tardy in my reply. You are exactly, spot on with your observation regarding the ventilation of my chicken coop!! I kind of lost track of this website and my post until just now, what was I worried about "ventilation" of my coop. When I was out there yesterday afternoon it was rather warm and stuffy, I don't think there was ammonia odor but I opened a window for several hours then went out and closed it before I went to bed. It was ok this morning, but put in more hay on the floor to let them scratch around, anyway. So, how do you think I should try and ventilate the coop. The windows are I have open at the bottom and they are somewhat low, maybe drafty. The only bright idea I had was this. It has a brick chimney that opens up in the bunkhouse/chicken coop. From what I can see some bird or varmit has built a nest in it and I plugged it up sort of temporary, what if I cleaned out the chimney and put a screen over the opening, would that be a benefit or foolish. I am in southwest Kansas, we have a lot of wind, hot, cold, dry, rarely wet, but frequent fog. I have a lot of things that I have a question about and I thank you again.

 

[cavemanrich]

what if I cleaned out the chimney and put a screen over the opening, would that be a benefit or foolish.

Certainly a benefit. But not an answer to all. Let me explain.
If the chimney is opened, it will provide certain amount of natural ventilation, but short of what is needed. An exhaust fan,, (small) running all the time, would do most good. Of course you do need take-in air for ventilation to be effective. If your door is somewhat not weather-tight, that may be enough. You can also crack the window slightly, to add takin air. During hot weather, I would suggest window be open all the time. Of course you do need to secure opening with hardware clothe, to prevent predator entry.
You can also experiment with running fan on a timer. This way not necessary to run continuously.
I think there are 2 windows into that room. One seems to be boarded up. If you installed louvered vents into that one,,, wind entering room, during winter, would not be in a form of a draft, enough to ruffle chicken feathers.
Try some of these ideas, and evaluate your results.

 

[Ted Brown]

I see a heat lamp that is suspended by those flimsy spring "hands".

As mentioned location is important, not knowing yours limits inputs that may be helpful.

Get rid of the heat lamp!! Chickens can survive very well down to -30C/-22F as long as they are sheltered from any drafts strong enough to ruffle feathers.

 

[Chickenshiot]

I see a heat lamp that is suspended by those flimsy spring "hands".

As mentioned location is important, not knowing yours limits inputs that may be helpful.

Get rid of the heat lamp!! Chickens can survive very well down to -30C/-22F as long as they are sheltered from any drafts strong enough to ruffle feathers.

Ok, 2 things just to set the record straight. Ok, well 3 things. Whatever lamps you see are just ordinary 60 watt light bulbs. Those lamps are only for my chicks that are not all feathered out quite yet. A heat lamp is much to intense and a danger for my situation. Next, if you look closely you will see that those lamps are tied with with wire that is used for an electric fence. It has a wire woven in with some kind of nylon string or something and it is extremely tough. I tied it in such a way that if the light falls it will hold it up and keep it out of the pine shavings. There is no light on my 1 month older chickens. Thank you for your concern!!!

 

[Ted Brown]

The picture does not show those details well, I did not mean to offend, good on you to be attuned to the risk and taking care.

I use ceramic bulbs. "Ceramic heat bulbs are generally considered safer and healthier than traditional heat bulbs with light for brooding chicks. Ceramic bulbs emit only heat without light, mimicking natural night and day cycles, which helps reduce chick stress and pecking behaviors often triggered by constant light. This lack of light exposure can also prevent sleep disruption and promote normal development."

Best of luck!

 

[Chickenshiot]

The picture does not show those details well, I did not mean to offend, good on you to be attuned to the risk and taking care.

I use ceramic bulbs. "Ceramic heat bulbs are generally considered safer and healthier than traditional heat bulbs with light for brooding chicks. Ceramic bulbs emit only heat without light, mimicking natural night and day cycles, which helps reduce chick stress and pecking behaviors often triggered by constant light. This lack of light exposure can also prevent sleep disruption and promote normal development."

Best of luck!

That's kind of a coincidence that you mentioned that. I actually have a pair of those in my amazon basket. Also, I have been reading about a red led light bulb that is calming to the chickens. I am ordering a few of those also, I might try one hear in my living room too! I saw somewhere yesterday some guy said he has hatched and raised hundreds of chicks and has never used more that a 60 watt ordinary light bulb. I believe him. A regular light bulb produces a lot of heat. No offence taken, just trying to keep everybody on track. Joke! Seriously, I need advice and I try to use it in my situation, if I can.

 

[Ted Brown]

I tend to go with nature. Chickens do not normally have red light hence my choice of ceramic.

 

[SourRoses]

I tend to go with nature. Chickens do not normally have red light hence my choice of ceramic.

Not to be argumentative, and this is kinda beyond the point, but I wanted to mention it anyway for future reference...

Seemingly white or yellow light actually has red light in it.
The sun is full spectrum, providing blue, red, etc as well as UV and UVB light.

So there is nothing physically harmful to any color of light, except when it prevents them from sleeping well.
Studies found chicks were calmer under red light than white or yellow, because it's missing the blue light that suppresses sleep hormones. That resulted in less pecking injuries in stressful housing conditions.
Of course the ceramic heat bulbs are a better option, allowing for proper sleep.
A brooder plate is even better, and the safest.
But I would place a regular light bulb as the least preferred option. They don't convert energy to heat as efficiently and they keep chicks awake too long.