So don’t laugh, but it’s going to dip below freezing for a few hours tonight here in California, and I’m wondering if I should keep my coop windows wide open, as usual. Here are the details:
Original coop is about 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 and 6 feet tall. All four walls have an 18-inch square window, but one is really a doorway that heads into the second floor of the coop (addition). Three chickens sleep in there. Two snuggle up, but my Barred Rock is queen of her roost and sleeps alone. The roosts have towels wrapped around them. There is no insulation (but there is a shed over the roof), and there are a few inches of pine shavings on the bottom.
The second story is about 51/2 x 3 and about 5 feet tall. Two walls have windows. One has ventilation holes drilled. There is no insulation on any wall, floor, or roof and there are a couple inches of rice hulls on the floor and the roosts are wrapped in towels. Six chickens sleep in there. Four on a lower roost and two up high.
Should I leave all the windows wide open? I know how important ventilation is, but this is a pretty drastic swing in temperature considering I was out in shorts and a tank top on Saturday.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. I’m inclined to leave it alone. I just wish the temperature had changed more gradually.
Original coop is about 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 and 6 feet tall. All four walls have an 18-inch square window, but one is really a doorway that heads into the second floor of the coop (addition). Three chickens sleep in there. Two snuggle up, but my Barred Rock is queen of her roost and sleeps alone. The roosts have towels wrapped around them. There is no insulation (but there is a shed over the roof), and there are a few inches of pine shavings on the bottom.
The second story is about 51/2 x 3 and about 5 feet tall. Two walls have windows. One has ventilation holes drilled. There is no insulation on any wall, floor, or roof and there are a couple inches of rice hulls on the floor and the roosts are wrapped in towels. Six chickens sleep in there. Four on a lower roost and two up high.
Should I leave all the windows wide open? I know how important ventilation is, but this is a pretty drastic swing in temperature considering I was out in shorts and a tank top on Saturday.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. I’m inclined to leave it alone. I just wish the temperature had changed more gradually.