Deep Litter Method Ventilation Question

[U_Stormcrow]

Oh! so if it's too cold, you close the window but putting the glass on? If so what temperature do you put the glass on?

We have regular posters here keeping chickens in unheated, well ventilated coops at -30 and -40F. What is cold to us humans doesn't ruffle a feather for your little dinosaurs.

In your climate, the only time you want glass in the windows is when the wind would otherwise be blowing the rain inside.

 

[ZANEYchickenguy]

So I have to have the windows open 24/7 rain or shine? How come on the Carolina coops have closable windows for their deep method?
Sorry, I am new to this and I don't know anything on the deep bedding method.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Closeable windows are to keep rain out. and because humans love cute looking hen houses. and we humans tend to build hen houses like our people houses. Not because the chickens need them, or even want them.

Carolina Coops is making a very attractive product that the public thinks they want. I've got nothing against them, they are serving a market.

But just south of you in TX, one of the most popular coop designs is two walls and a big overhang, oriented to block prevailing winds. The other two sides are a pillar at the fourth corner and a bunch of welded wire. No windows. Completely open. Obviously a much less attractive - and less expensive - product, for all its practicality in that climate.

 

[aart]

So I have to have the windows open 24/7 rain or shine?

I like top hinged windows, open all summer closed in winter because I have permanent protected venting for winter.

I live in Oklahoma

Add to your profile.

 

[ZANEYchickenguy]

top hinged windows

Could you show me a picture of your top hinged windows? Also, I don't' understand what you mean by protecting venting for winter.

 

[Sally PB]

In my coop, the half round windows have hardware cloth and window screen over them. No glass. The HC is to keep out critters, the window screen is for bugs. The side windows are just for more light.

Chickens wear down coats. They can handle the cold very well. Oklahoma weather should be no problem. They may have more trouble with the heat in summer.

The pictures below show the roof overhangs that shelter the openings from the rain. It takes some really horizontal rain to blow in. That said, I did take advice from @aart and cover the bottom half of both of the half rounds with furnace filter material. Air still goes through, but it'll stop rain/snow from blowing in.

I bought two of the cheapest furnace filters I could find. I took off the cardboard frame, cut them in half, and stapled them over the bottom of the windows. I don't have pictures of that.

 

[aart]

Could you show me a picture of your top hinged windows?
Also, I don't' understand what you mean by protecting venting for winter.

Some on my coop page, they open to the interior but the exteriors are the same.

Open soffits are good all year protected venting, no rain can get in, tho the uppers needed furnace filter to protect from blowing snow if it gets deep on the lower roof.

 

[3KillerBs]

Deep bedding doesn't smell, right? Also, I think I will do what you said and cut the triangle gable of the roof and put hardwire cloth on it. Do you think extending my roof metal sheets will do the trick with keep rain out of the 24/7 window if I cut the triangle thing on both sides as you suggested or do you have another idea?

After a certain amount of time I can see visually that the poop-to-shaving ratio in my deep bedding is higher than I want it to be and I can just begin to detect an odor -- that's when I fork it all out and start over.

With my current setup, a 4'x4', monitor-roof coop containing one more chicken than would be ideal, I'm cleaning it out every 6-10 weeks.

Exactly how much roof overhang you need to keep rain out of your vents depends on the precise setup you have, your weather, how the building relates to the prevailing winds, etc.

Oh! so if it's too cold, you close the window but putting the glass on? If so what temperature do you put the glass on?

Chickens don't mind cold because they're wearing down parkas.

The thing is to keep them dry -- which is part of what all that ventilation is for -- but to prevent them from having wind blow directly on their roosts.

Where I live it would never get cold enough to worry about a chicken so that's beyond my realm of knowledge.

 

[jdragonwings]

In my coop, the half round windows have hardware cloth and window screen over them. No glass. The HC is to keep out critters, the window screen is for bugs. The side windows are just for more light.

Chickens wear down coats. They can handle the cold very well. Oklahoma weather should be no problem. They may have more trouble with the heat in summer.

The pictures below show the roof overhangs that shelter the openings from the rain. It takes some really horizontal rain to blow in. That said, I did take advice from @aart and cover the bottom half of both of the half rounds with furnace filter material. Air still goes through, but it'll stop rain/snow from blowing in.

I bought two of the cheapest furnace filters I could find. I took off the cardboard frame, cut them in half, and stapled them over the bottom of the windows. I don't have pictures of that.

Oh my gosh! I spent hour and hours trying to figure out how to cheaply cover my winter ventilation- this is the best idea ever!

 

[Sally PB]

This year, I added on to the coop, so I have more ventilation areas. Some are at roost level, which is great in the hot months, but not in the cold ones. We had a chilly day, and I could feel the breeze coming in, as it was straight out of the west, where the openings face.

I didn't have any furnace filter material, so I cut up an old T-shirt and stapled it over. It cut down the breeze significantly. I've since taken it off, as it got hot again. It was more of an experiment.

If the opening is within reach of the chickens, they may try pecking it. I put the T-shirt on the outside, so they couldn't.