Coop Temperatures

[Toddrick]

Here in Indiana it got down to like 14F last weekend. My little, uninsulated coop temperature was about the same. I only have two chickens in it right now, which is probably why the temp isn't warmer inside.

 

[deacons]

Timely thread, I was wondering about other people's experiences too. I have 8 hens in a coop that could probably comfortably hold 10-11, with three windows that have a wooden shutter over them, and a sand floor I bed with pine shavings for the winter. I'm in NH too, OP!

I've read in a few threads here on BYC and on other chicken websites that people say their coop is 15-20*F warmer inside than the outside temp, which has definitely NOT been my experience! Mine seems to be about 3-5 degrees warmer inside than out in the winter. BUT, it does provide great wind protection, which I think is what allows them to stay as comfortable as possible overnight. When I step in there on a bitter, windy morning, it does feel almost instantly more comfortable than when you're outside exposed to the wind.

I bought a cheap "weather station" thing and use the outside receiver in the coop so I can watch the temp and humidity from inside my house. In the winter, coop humidity usually ranges between 50-60%, unless there's been a lot of rain/snow and the girls are shaking off a lot of moisture at night. Earlier this week, we had torrential rain all day, and the coop humidity was closer to 70%, which was starting to make me nervous for frostbite reasons. That night though, temps stayed closer to 40*F, so they made it with no frostbite yet.

 

[mattsanity]

I have the cheap-o remote thermometer as well to go with the not cheap weather station I have in the front yard (I'm a weather nerd) and the humidity feels fine to me in there. No signs of frostbite at this early stage. That said, I can't stand not knowing the humidity so I'll probably have to upgrade to the cheap-o temp/humidity thingy for my coop. Much to my wife's chagrin I've taken to writing down coop versus ambient temp a few times a day. The difference had been just a couple degrees until last week and I added the mylar-wrapped bubble insulation (like water heater blanket) between studs and on the roof and that seemed to make a big difference since I had more like a 6 - 10 degree spread now. I'm sure the chickens couldn't care less, lol.

 

[Toddrick]

Timely thread, I was wondering about other people's experiences too. I have 8 hens in a coop that could probably comfortably hold 10-11, with three windows that have a wooden shutter over them, and a sand floor I bed with pine shavings for the winter. I'm in NH too, OP!

I've read in a few threads here on BYC and on other chicken websites that people say their coop is 15-20*F warmer inside than the outside temp, which has definitely NOT been my experience! Mine seems to be about 3-5 degrees warmer inside than out in the winter. BUT, it does provide great wind protection, which I think is what allows them to stay as comfortable as possible overnight. When I step in there on a bitter, windy morning, it does feel almost instantly more comfortable than when you're outside exposed to the wind.

I bought a cheap "weather station" thing and use the outside receiver in the coop so I can watch the temp and humidity from inside my house. In the winter, coop humidity usually ranges between 50-60%, unless there's been a lot of rain/snow and the girls are shaking off a lot of moisture at night. Earlier this week, we had torrential rain all day, and the coop humidity was closer to 70%, which was starting to make me nervous for frostbite reasons. That night though, temps stayed closer to 40*F, so they made it with no frostbite yet.

Yea, that pretty much sums up my experience as well. The first remote thermometer always read 80-90% humidity no matter what, so I had to return it. My new one is nice and reads 50-70% usually. My coop blocks the wind, but the temp is about the same as outside, since it is just plywood basically. Even when the temp was 14F outside though, I stuck my head I there and it was a LOT better than it felt outside.

 

[EagleEyes]

I have 7 hens in a 6'sq hen house and just received my wireless thermometer/humidity guage yesterday.
Coop is 18 deg, and outside is 13 deg. humidity inside is 72% and same outside. That's at 7:00am

Now, early afternoon, coop is 30 deg, humidity down to 59% with the sun shining on the coop. 22 deg and 57% humidity outside.
I have a black rubber roof on the coop, so this morning, I swept the snow off, hoping the the sun would hit the black roof and warm it up, and it looks like it worked.
I'll keep that in mind this winter.

Gotta love new toys