Coop Humidity

[aart]

I live in Michigan, this week we had -5 with over 90% humidity.

The humidity was that high outside the coop....or just inside?
Where in MI?

 

[JoeCT]

Humidity is relative to the temp/dew point spread. Once temp cools to dew point the air becomes saturated, 100% humidity. The condensation will build on a surface's temp that is at or below the dew point. Warmer side gets wet. It's more complicated but that is the gist of it from a commercial pilot's understanding.

 

[OldTim]

The humidity was that high outside the coop....or just inside?
Where in MI?

Outside, my hygrometer said inside my coop was 65. Very southern Michigan, I have read people in Maine having much colder ambient air temperature without frostbite issues. This is my first year and first flock it really is bothersome to see that frostbite on my big boy. The only thing I can attribute it to is high humidity...let me know if I am wrong...thanks

 

[Alaskan]

Outside, my hygrometer said inside my coop was 65. Very southern Michigan, I have read people in Maine having much colder ambient air temperature without frostbite issues. This is my first year and first flock it really is bothersome to see that frostbite on my big boy. The only thing I can attribute it to is high humidity...let me know if I am wrong...thanks

If you had good ventilation, then there isn't anything else that you could do.... except of course pick breeds with tiny combs and wattles....


When ambient temps are super cold, and the ambient humidity is super high... you are simply stuck.

 

[aart]

Outside, my hygrometer said inside my coop was 65. Very southern Michigan, I have read people in Maine having much colder ambient air temperature without frostbite issues. This is my first year and first flock it really is bothersome to see that frostbite on my big boy. The only thing I can attribute it to is high humidity...let me know if I am wrong...thanks

Humidity and cold temps can definitely cause frostbite.
It's pretty hard to avoid frostbite, IME, it's ugly and upsetting for sure.
Here's a pictorial progress of 2 cases of pretty severe FB I have had here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/frostbite-in-sw-michigan.74597/

 

[Sally PB]

I had a buff Orpington roo. For both his winters, he got frostbite on his comb and wattles. It scabbed over and eventually fell off. None of my Australorp girls got frostbite. They had smaller combs and wattles.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

We get a dusting of snow at 90% humidity when in the 20's F.

A lot of people leave chickens in greenhouses for winter. You keep the end vents open. It's surprising you don't hear about more losses to weasels. Though the ground is frozen I'd think they could chew through plastic but maybe not if stretched tight.

 

[OldTim]

Humidity and cold temps can definitely cause frostbite.
It's pretty hard to avoid frostbite, IME, it's ugly and upsetting for sure.
Here's a pictorial progress of 2 cases of pretty severe FB I have had here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/frostbite-in-sw-michigan.74597/

Thanks for information, partially consoling lol. Temperature went from 40 degrees to -6 in approximately 6 hours last Friday morning, I really thought we skated by because I didn't see anything Friday..here is a picture of what he looked like Saturday

 

[JoeCT]

Have you thought about using a gun safe dehumidifying rod placed in the roost area? If I was having frostbite issues it would be on my "give it a try" list. I would make sure it wasn't exposed to any water or leaks. Not advice, just a thought. Good luck.

 

[aart]

Have you thought about using a gun safe dehumidifying rod placed in the roost area? If I was having frostbite issues it would be on my "give it a try" list. I would make sure it wasn't exposed to any water or leaks. Not advice, just a thought. Good luck.

With the kind of ventilation a coop should have, trying to dehumidify would be pretty futile.