Frost in Chicken Coop

[Egghead_Jr]

Is it metal or wood? If it's metal you can always us a 1/2 inch or 3/4" drill and pop a bunch of holes along the low end of ridge line. Nothing but air will get in that way. I don't advise leaving coop doors open at night.

 

[MarcyR1011]

It's wood and very sturdy and we put an extra floor down to reinforce it more and it's on railroad ties. I don't have the main doors to it open. Only the small door from the coop into the fenced in kennel (6ft high chain link) and it's only open about 2 inches. Just enough to let some air in at night. I don't want to open the window unless I have to because I don't want a draft directly on the birds and it's close to the perches.

 

[aart]

It's an 10X12 big garden shed that I converted into a coop with a large fenced in run (even though some get out and free range). We put 2 more vents in approximately 8X10 at each end and I've been leaving the small door between the coop and kennel open a few inches and it seems to have helped quite a bit. I also have a make shift window I can open if I need to. I just don't want it to get too drafty in there. I worry about them getting too cold and I think that's something I need to get past. Really appreciate every ones comments and suggestions. I think I'm going to revamp my coop this summer and change some things to make clean up easier. I usually gut my coop out once a week and I want it to be easier than it has been!

....... I have around 28 laying right now(many different breeds) and 32 Isa that are only 3-1/2 months old ....

Do you really have 60 birds in there?

 

[MarcyR1011]

Yes, they are usually only in there to sleep and have about a 30X40 run they are out in during the day. Plus some get out and free range. The 32 Isa are only 3-1/2 month old and just got put in with the ones I got last spring so I know I'm going to need another coop once winter is over. It hasn't been a problem so far because I keep the coop really clean and a friend told me they had a coop smaller than mine with 100 chickens in it. There doesn't seem to be any problems with them all getting along thankfully. I have 4 roosters and the rest are all hens. 14 different breeds. I have to keep their run shoveled out to get them to go outside though. That's where I'm thinking the moisture problem is coming from. So many birds in one coop. I thought it would help keep them warm but it's causing moisture problems. I'm looking at maybe building a 10X20 coop hopefully this spring/summer. When I 1st looked into getting chickens I was told you could get 1 chicken for each square foot because they only use the coop to roost in at night.

 

[aart]

Yes, they are usually only in there to sleep and have about a 30X40 run they are out in during the day. Plus some get out and free range. The 32 Isa are only 3-1/2 month old and just got put in with the ones I got last spring so I know I'm going to need another coop once winter is over. It hasn't been a problem so far because I keep the coop really clean and a friend told me they had a coop smaller than mine with 100 chickens in it. There doesn't seem to be any problems with them all getting along thankfully. I have 4 roosters and the rest are all hens. 14 different breeds. I have to keep their run shoveled out to get them to go outside though. That's where I'm thinking the moisture problem is coming from. So many birds in one coop. I thought it would help keep them warm but it's causing moisture problems. I'm looking at maybe building a 10X20 coop hopefully this spring/summer. When I 1st looked into getting chickens I was told you could get 1 chicken for each square foot because they only use the coop to roost in at night.

Not suprised you're having humidity issues.....that's a lot of birds breathing and pooping.

Can you post a pic of inside and outside of coop?
Maybe we can suggest how to add more ventilation

 

[MarcyR1011]

Sure! Once I figure out how! I think I need to take pics and download them to my computer before I can put them on here. Once I figure it out I will. I just went out and cleaned it out again and it seems 100% better. We put down a linoleum floor so it's easy to clean out. I just rake it out onto a tarp then sweep it. Just put down fresh straw mixed with pine shavings. No sign of frost bite on any of my babies thankfully. I love my chickens and we have them spoiled. They will fly up and sit on your shoulder. They are all friendly except for the Lavender Orpington Roosters. They are more on the skittish side.