Frost Bitten Combs. Need Help

[trentoldenburg]

Thanks to all, I cut a decent sized hole in my coop and I have a hatch I can open up as well.

 

[chickens really]

Best wishes...Hope it helps you out..

 

[junebuggena]

Just one more thing that wasn't mentioned previously, you need more than just one vent. Bad air needs to be able to escape the coop, but you also need vents on opposing walls to bring in fresh air. Vents should be big enough to allow good airflow, but small enough and sheltered enough that blowing rain and snow can't get into the coop. The biggest mistake inexperienced flock keepers make is thinking that a sealed up coop is best in winter. They could not be more wrong. You have to remember that chickens are basically wearing full body down parkas all year long. They can handle cold. What they can't handle is a coop full of moist, ammonia laden air.

 

[Chickassan]

I don't know what you have on your coop floor but besides having good ventilation keeping the droppings at a minimum will help you alot. You might have to scoop droppings and turn bedding every day depending on temperature and size of your coop and flock.

 

[Lorielus]

Diving in here, how many droppings are too many? I've a coop with three hens (about 1.5m by 1.5m by 1.5m with a hefty ventilation slat. To date (about 4 months now) I've been clearing it once a week, should I be doing it more often?

 

[junebuggena]

Diving in here, how many droppings are too many? I've a coop with three hens (about 1.5m by 1.5m by 1.5m with a hefty ventilation slat. To date (about 4 months now) I've been clearing it once a week, should I be doing it more often?

How often you clean out your coop depends on your management technique. I've got an 8 x 10 coop with about 20 adults in it. I just keep adding layers of shavings and hay to the floor. After about 3 to 6 months, depending on the weather, it all gets pulled out to compost and I start over.

 

[Lorielus]

I don't layer it, I just clear it weekly entirely and replace with fresh bedding (the soft woodchip kind).