EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[kwhites634]

You're right. On a related tangent, I've seen some really interesting things with a friend's coop that have made me wonder if the ventilation should-do's are different up here. I don't doubt they are helpful guidelines when you frequently go between above and below freezing, it makes logical sense then, but I can't shake this little doubt in my head that's telling me to go experiment with some things. Being me, I can't just say "it's good enough" and continue on as is, so I am going to try a new thing every year... and probably fail spectacularly in the process. I'm going to be getting maybe 20 Leghorns next year, so they'll be part of my tests.

One thing that took me an extraordinarily long time to realize is that even the peeps on here that say they have cold weather rarely have it to the length and extent that I do. Things are different, and there's not very much solid data that can be applied.The more southwestern places have very cold dips, but from what I understand, it warms up a lot in between. I'd also like to know if there are any other factors that have an impact on how much frostbite happens. What I would be overjoyed to see is a study with everything from temperature to barometric pressure measured and night-by-night photos of the combs affected by the conditions.

Is there a lot of moisture with your cold temperature, or is it too cold for that?

 

[BantyChooks]

Is there a lot of moisture with your cold temperature, or is it too cold for that?

A lot of the time, yes, actually. Poop freezes solid in little balls, just the way it fell from the roost. All the moisture is locked in until spring. They still breathe out moisture, but that gets lost inside the 12x12 coop with many fewer birds than I could technically have. My issue is the one day out of many where the sun and the birds inside warm it so the snow and ice to melt just enough to freeze the bedding together like bricks. Also, the ducks somehow get water inside the coop door by running back and forth to the water bowl that I fill twice a day. Blasted creatures.
EDIT: that was meant as a 'yes' to the latter part of the question.

What doesn't help either is the period of time when it's almost winter where we get a lot of wet snow. It's too late to clean out the coop then, unless I fancy shovelling all the way to the woods. (I don't.) That wet bedding then sets the tone of the whole winter. That's why I want to cover the windows and have a pop door---to keep all of that stuff out. I can't keep the door closed as it is now, because the ducks have a party in their water and the bedding gets even wetter.

What I'd like to have is a sort of dry deep litter, where I can walk in and scuff the bedding up with a boot. I can't do the dirt kind that so many love. It's nice in theory, but the "Oh, just make it like the forest floor, or a compost pile!" approach doesn't work when both of those things freeze solid every year.

 

[BantyChooks]

Truthfully, I do tend to push for ever bigger openings.
Most of my buildings have huge windows on east and west walls allowing the prevailing winds to blow right through. My oldest building is a repurposed garden shed. With a ridge vent and only one small window, I have a box fan on the window sill blowing right at the roost 12 months out of the year. Some of the hens tend to vie for a spot where the cold air blows right at the roost.

In winter or summer? How big are the buildings?
What I would really like is a barn that I could build pens inside. That would give me the double advantage of protection from weather and air for ventilation that's been slightly warmed.

 

[kwhites634]

In winter or summer? How big are the buildings?
What I would really like is a barn that I could build pens inside. That would give me the double advantage of protection from weather and air for ventilation that's been slightly warmed.

But not the advantage of sunlight, unless all the pens were on outside walls. Right?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

In winter or summer? How big are the buildings?
What I would really like is a barn that I could build pens inside. That would give me the double advantage of protection from weather and air for ventilation that's been slightly warmed.

Year round!
They are all 100 sq. ft. or just under so I don't need a permit to build them.

 

[BantyChooks]

But not the advantage of sunlight, unless all the pens were on outside walls. Right?

No, no sunlight, but they wouldn't be in there all summer. Rather like Ralphie's pole barn, if you've seen it.

 

[BantyChooks]

Year round!
They are all 100 sq. ft. or just under so I don't need a permit to build them.

Smart man.

 

[BullChick]

Before leaving, the temperatures had stayed warm enough so that the snow melted, and days of heavy rain had begun flowing into the lower part of the coop. Fortunately, I have the six by twelve upper section, and more than half of the lower section is still dry. The few birds I have are fine. I have a lot of ventilation.

 

[kwhites634]

Smart man.

I just remembered something! How would you like to be snuggled up to the nice warm motor in the back of the 'fridge on Abi's sun porch right about now?

 

[Akrnaf2]

Compared to you friends how do yours hold up are they more stressed. Shorter lived or not noticeable?

Not at all! They are doing fine never had any health issues they lay good, and don't molt heavily, usually not more then 20 -30% of the feathers , but you must remember that I have a small flock .