Condensation on inside of coop roof - first winter in CA

[~KH~]

I had chickens in Idaho but this is my first "winter" in CA with chickens and a new coop. In Idaho, I put plywood underneath corrugated metal for the roof, but here we decided to just use the corrugated polycarb panels from Lowe's without any underlayment. I noticed this morning (first cool morning in awhile) that there is not only condensation on the top of the panels, but also underneath, on the coop side. It doesn't appear that it's dripping into the coop and I'm hoping with the slope it will just drain outside, but wanted to ask if I should be doing something different. Here's the thread to my coop build and picture of inside of the coop today.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-wichita-cabin-coop.1189918/

 

[Embuck]

The very small amount of water from condensation shouldn't be a problem. It's never really bothered me - and I get a lot of condensation. It drips a bit, but dries out pretty quickly.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have a metal roof on my coop. Condensation does drip inside in some weather at the rafters so I get wet spots. Some of them can get pretty wet. But I keep the coop really dry otherwise and I have a lot of bedding and great ventilation. I leave the chickens locked in the coop somewhat late most mornings so they stir it up for me with their scratching, which helps.

It looks like you have pretty good ventilation up high. You might try scattering a treat like corn at any wet spots to encourage your chickens to scratch.

There are two risks. If it stays wet it can start to stink and get unhealthy. It can raise the humidity level enough to cause frostbite problems in temperatures below freezing. I don't know how cold it gets in your part of Southern California, I sometimes see temperatures below zero Fahrenheit and don't have frostbite problems. In some areas and depending in how the coop is built condensation could be a big problem. I wish you luck! It may require some trial and error to see if it is a problem for you.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I'm thinking inadequate ventilation as the chickens are putting off warm moist air and so is their poop, that is condensing on that cool surface, going to phone a friend @aart would love to get your input.

 

[~KH~]

I'm thinking inadequate ventilation as the chickens are putting off warm moist air and so is their poop, that is condensing on that cool surface, going to phone a friend @aart would love to get your input.

I don't think it's inadequate ventilation - this particular morning was very humid and cool, with the grass extremely wet. We are in Ventura, a few miles from the coast.

As far as lows here go (I've only been here a couple years), last winter we got mid 30s occasionally.

 

[debid]

I think the cross supports are actually impeding the airflow at the roof. I used the same material on the brooder coop but didn't use any supports other than the flat walls it sits on because it only has to span 32". There has never been condensation inside but the air is free to flow along the channels just as with a flat roof.

 

[getaclue]

I agree with those saying it appears there is inadequate ventilation.

 

[debid]

I'm pretty sure this is trapped pockets of moist, warm air collecting right at ceiling level but the air quality below is fine. Can you take the wave-shaped supports out?

 

[~KH~]

As to the ventilation - the whole underside and topside of the polycarb roof had condensation on it - the top of the roof is open to the air (no ventilation issues). Even all of it in the run part, which is entirely surrounded with hardware cloth. There is no way to increase ventilation in the run and the condensation amount was the same in the run vs the coop.

There is a window in the coop open all the time, as well as the pop door, so cross ventilation from the bottom to the top, also.

If you're using the polycarb panels, the corrugated wood has to be used, otherwise the panels will flatten in the sun and heat.

Since I don't believe it's a ventilation issue, I guess my concern is the occasional possibility of some of the condensation dripping in the coop area. The design of the coop area and ventilation areas is quite similar to the one I had in Idaho and I had no ventilation issues - it was drier there, though, so I also didn't have the condensation due to humidity.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I totally agree, it is not a ventilation issue. It's simply the laws of physics, moisture is condensing out of humid air when it touches something colder, like that roof. Because you have good ventilation that humid air can touch the underside of the roof as well as the top side of the roof. Mine does exactly the same.

I made my suggestions above, I don't have anything to add to them.