Cold Temps

[Alaskan]

Hello, I live in MN and we have some cold nights here, a few nights already at -5 and worried about the nights and days that will hit -20 or worse. I insulated my coop with reflective insulation roll material and stacked hay bales arounf the bottom and sides as much as possible. The ventalation seems good as far as I can tell , I havent seen any moisture on the window in the coop. I have 8 inches of pines shavings on the bottom of the coop. But I have noticed my girls have some slight start of frost bite on there combs. Wondering what else I can do to help with low temps? we have a larger run for them, wrapped in 4 mil clear plastic twice to keep wind out but the top is ventalated well. Just worried and looking for advice. Thank you!

View attachment 2467451

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Insulation inside coop

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I don't see ventilation in the coop?

I would think, if you have seen frostbite at -5 (is that in Fahrenheit?) that you need more ventilation.

For the run, I would open up one entire wall.

 

[Lothar1974]

I don't see ventilation in the coop?

I would think, if you have seen frostbite at -5 (is that in Fahrenheit?) that you need more ventilation.

For the run, I would open up one entire wall.

Inside pic isn't full pic of ventilation,

Coop has decent ventilation I thought, but what do you all think?

 

[Alaskan]

View attachment 2468981

Inside pic isn't full pic of ventilation,
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Coop has decent ventilation I thought, but what do you all think?

I don't think that is enough.

I think the rule of thumb is 1 square foot per bird?

It looks like maybe you have 1 square foot total?

 

[3KillerBs]

View attachment 2468981

Inside pic isn't full pic of ventilation,
View attachment 2468988

Coop has decent ventilation I thought, but what do you all think?

That little louver probably isn't even one square foot of ventilation and you need one square foot of permanent -- 24/7/365 -- ventilation PER BIRD.

 

[Lothar1974]

That little louver probably isn't even one square foot of ventilation and you need one square foot of permanent -- 24/7/365 -- ventilation PER BIRD.

That would be almost as big the largest side of my coop. It's a 3x5 lean coop.

 

[Alaskan]

That would be almost as big the largest side of my coop. It's a 3x5 lean coop.

That sounds great.

If you make the wire side of the coop, the side up against the nice roofed run, the wire side will be completely sheltered from inclement weather.

 

[Lothar1974]

That sounds great.

If you make the wire side of the coop, the side up against the nice roofed run, the wire side will be completely sheltered from inclement weather.

That's not feasible to do currently. The coop it's self hasn't had condensation nor do I smell ammonia or anything. I am adding a 36x5 vent on the back below the current one, still should be well above the roosting bar. Will start here for now.

 

[Mrs. K]

If you are not seeing moisture in the coop, I would not fret it.

Another thing, I rarely get frostbite when it is REALLY cold, maybe it is because we are naturally arid, but here, when it gets really cold, it is generally dry. When I get frostbite is when it HAS been really cold, and manure gets frozen in the coop and piles up a bit. THEN we get a sudden warm up, things thaw out, humidity rises, and gets cold again that night. That is when I get frostbite.

Keeping manure from piling up, keeping things dry, keeping deep bedding to keep things dry, those things help me keep from getting frostbite. And I will be honest here, a little frostbite, does not seem to phase my chickens. I have never had it real bad.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

THEN we get a sudden warm up, things thaw out, humidity rises, and gets cold again that night. That is when I get frostbite.

Yeppers!