Frost formation on birds only in poorly ventilated coop

[loanwizard]

I certainly won't heat LOL! My entire top of the coop is open as well, and my flock used the roost on the inside of the prevailing wind wall. I stapled up tarp leaving a small space at the top, and they went back to their regular roosts. I have one more tarp to staple to block a little more draft and they will be just fine. Now if it would just get cold, I could stop worrying about the floor of the coop getting damp....

 

[featherz]

I just checked our weather station - humidity today is 80%. LOL. My guess is 'frost happens'.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Quote:
I'm in Missouri too and I agree with you.
Every coop I build has ever more ventilation but I do it for fresh air because as you know we start with 80% humidity nearly year round.
If it is so humid it is at the point of rain outside, no amount of ventilation will diminish it.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
This shows partially how birds are housed. They have wind block provided by straw bales and plywood (not shown) and protection from direct sun and precipitation as provided by blue plastic tarps. Do not use those if have choice.


Wind block stops direct northely winds but still allows very good ventilation. Arrangement as such since heat stress is by far more important than cold stress in my dominque breeding pens when hens are laying. Different breeds sometimes require different types of protection from environment. Some can not handle heat, cold or wet conditions.

Best picture I have.

 

[stormylady]

Quote:
This shows partially how birds are housed. They have wind block provided by straw bales and plywood (not shown) and protection from direct sun and precipitation as provided by blue plastic tarps. Do not use those if have choice.


Wind block stops direct northely winds but still allows very good ventilation. Arrangement as such since heat stress is by far more important than cold stress in my dominque breeding pens when hens are laying. Different breeds sometimes require different types of protection from environment. Some can not handle heat, cold or wet conditions.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/41527_oppossum_2011_january_05_b.jpgBest picture I have.

Thankyou, the picture helps alot.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
This shows partially how birds are housed. They have wind block provided by straw bales and plywood (not shown) and protection from direct sun and precipitation as provided by blue plastic tarps. Do not use those if have choice.


Wind block stops direct northely winds but still allows very good ventilation. Arrangement as such since heat stress is by far more important than cold stress in my dominque breeding pens when hens are laying. Different breeds sometimes require different types of protection from environment. Some can not handle heat, cold or wet conditions.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/41527_oppossum_2011_january_05_b.jpgBest picture I have.

Thankyou, the picture helps alot.

Want to buy Siamese cat in picture?

 

[TDM]

Quote:
I agree Jim. My hens in the mobile hen houses are just fine. However, I have some cuckoo marans roosters that camp out on my open porch with frostbite. I think outside humidity plays a role, and it's pretty hard to dry anything when humidity level is 100%, it's drizzling rain outside, and the temperatures dip quickly below freezing in a strong wind.

 

[elmo]

Of course! Frost forms on surfaces outside, after all.

I just think the point about coop ventilation is that frostbite is more likely in a more humid environment than a drier one. When a coop is shut up tight without sufficient ventilation, and you have chickens inside exhaling their moist breath all night, the humidity inside the coop is going to be higher than outside.

I look at relative humidity: is the humidity inside my coop no higher than the humidity outside?

 

[Tracydr]

Have you ever seen horses outside on frosty mornings covered in frost?

 

[crazyhen]

I have condensation even on the outside wire. If it freezes it is frost period. I have condensation in the coop ceiling as well. No insulation. I hope my hens will be ok as there is plenty of ventilation. You can only do so much without overdoing the protection to the point of putting them in peril. One year i went all out with protection. It was the year they all came down with a resp. problem and I started over. I think we protect them to much when it comes to temp and ventilation.
It rarely gets below zero here so I leave a lot of ventilation. gloria jean