Comb Frostbite - ventilation problem?

[junebuggena]

Perhaps I should be cutting more holes along the roof line (under the eaves). As of now, I have the holes just at the peak... should I cut a bunch more along the entire roof line on both sides? Finding the right balance between ventilation and drafts isn't easy!

Drafts = chickens sitting very close to, or in the direct path of the vents.
As long as the roosts are positioned so that the birds are not in the direct path of airflow, it's fine. Soffit/eaves vents pull in air. The air rises and exhausts through the gable vents.

 

[Molpet]

what has the humidity been also... I had no frostbite at -17f and 20%humidity.. a month later it was +25 and 100% humidity outside, and they got frostbite

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Perhaps I should be cutting more holes along the roof line (under the eaves). As of now, I have the holes just at the peak... should I cut a bunch more along the entire roof line on both sides? Finding the right balance between ventilation and drafts isn't easy!

Believe it or not , if you have holes all along the roof line you'll have less ventilation than if you have holes at soffit and gable. Passive and convection ventilation are two different things. By having planned venting of soffit to gable the air is actually drawn in with force and has much higher flow rate than passive, that fresh air circulates with moist coop air along ceiling line then is pushed out the gable vents. Convection is far ore efficient venting than passive. If the force of convection is nullified than there needs to be rather large openings to make for enough passive air exchange which equates to drafts in small coops. In small coops you must use the power of convection in winter.

Adding: I wouldn't keep water in that small of a coop. I also keep two roosts and at equal height. Just high enough for birds to walk under them with ease and that's a foot above top of bedding.

 

[aart]

Are your soffits open......perforated soffit panels or wide open and covered with HC???

 

[rossco17]

Just wanted to follow up on this. I drilled about 18 2" holes at the peak, lowered their roost so they're nowhere near the soffit, and also went in and sealed up all the cracks I could find. It's been below zero at night recently and a few nights with significant wind and NO frostbite.

I appreciate everyone's comments and helping me resolve this issue. Thank you.