Feedback needed

[NewbieMN]

Hello-
We were recently gifted 4 hens and they came with their coop/run. This is a
Photo from when we got them. We know very little about chickens and I've been reading a lot online. We are now in subzero temps and I read so much my head is spinning. I cannot figure out if our girl's coop is ok or not. I went out this morning and there was frost throughout the interior and on the hen's backs and a little frostbite had hit one hen on the comb. I just went out and looked inside and I feel like from what I've read there is good ventailatiob-we've added some. It's all above the hen level. It's a small coop you can open with a door on one side. We are building a much better on this summer but I feel terrible not knowing if the girls are ok out there. We have pine shavings about 4" deep on the floor and I made a 2x4 roost bar but it has to be about 5" from ground as coop is tiny. :/ I would really appreciate any feedback. Water is keep outside of the coop in a heated waterer...we also think they are buff orphintons-previous owners didn't know. They love to be outdoors and wait by the run door to be let out. They are outside right now and it's in te teens. Last night it was -10.

 

[Izzychicky]

Frost and frostbite come from water in the air, the chickens breathing will add moisture. If you aren’t getting a lot of ventilation it can cause frostbite. I have read that putting Vaseline on their combs, wattles or feet can help prevent frostbite

 

[NewbieMN]

Hello-
We were recently gifted 4 hens and they came with their coop/run. This is a
Photo from when we got them. We know very little about chickens and I've been reading a lot online. We are now in subzero temps and I read so much my head is spinning. I cannot figure out if our girl's coop is ok or not. I went out this morning and there was frost throughout the interior and on the hen's backs and a little frostbite had hit one hen on the comb. I just went out and looked inside and I feel like from what I've read there is good ventailatiob-we've added some. It's all above the hen level. It's a small coop you can open with a door on one side. We are building a much better on this summer but I feel terrible not knowing if the girls are ok out there. We have pine shavings about 4" deep on the floor and I made a 2x4 roost bar but it has to be about 5" from ground as coop is tiny. :/ I would really appreciate any feedback. Water is keep outside of the coop in a heated waterer...we also think they are buff orphintons-previous owners didn't know. They love to be outdoors and wait by the run door to be let out. They are outside right now and it's in te teens. Last night it was -10.

We added a vent on two sides of the coop about 2x4" covered with hardware cloth at the very top corner of the roof. h. Also drilled a line of holes along the top of those same
Sides. Put a few more holes above nesting boxes but the roof leaves openings as well so didn't want to have too much airflow....

 

[NewbieMN]

Frost and frostbite come from water in the air, the chickens breathing will add moisture. If you aren’t getting a lot of ventilation it can cause frostbite. I have read that putting Vaseline on their combs, wattles or feet can help prevent frostbite

Thank you. I too read that. I went out yesterday to try and apply Vaseline to the comb that was kind of yellow. It froze on my gloves and was really
Hard to manipulate. I tried to apply as gently as I could. Today it looks the same maybe a little better not hanging to the side as much and brighter.

 

[aart]

Vaseline is not going to do much, better to leave it alone IMO.
Frost on birds and inside of coop shows not enough ventilation.
Ventilating that small of a coop is difficult.
I'd add a long short vent way up high under the run roof.
Got pics of inside of coop?
Deep snow might bury that tiny thing.

 

[NewbieMN]

Thank you for your input. That's a good idea! I'll try to snap some photos tomorrow. Yeah I never thought of it getting buried. Yikes. Well if I make the vent right on the inside of the run I'll have a way to almost get in there haha. I've added a wind/snow block to the other side of their run too. My biggest issue is getting the door open in the morning as it's freezing shut. I'm already looking forward to spring when we can start building a new coop and run. For the girls' and my sake