Frostbite and opening windows?

[Jenjens]

Hello, my rooster's comb got frostbite. I have them in an insulated shed and there are 3 vents up top. It hasn't even gotten under 10 degrees yet, so what worries me is it getting worse. My problem, is my husband , after several conversations and what is now turning into fights, does not think that humidity is the issue inside caused by their breath. He said he will not make any holes in the coop to add more ventilation.he also is claiming that since we live next to the river, it will just be adding humid air inside. The whole "humidity coming from their breath is what is causing the frostbite without adequate ventilation" makes absolutely no sense , and I am wrong. So, no help from him at all. I need advice on how to add more air inside.

There are 2 windows in each side of their house. They sleep in perches that are right next to those windows, so I can't open those. (there are other places to sleep, they just prefer those).The only thing I can think of is opening one of the doors, and cracking it open, but I have no way of making sure the wind doesn't open it up completely (the door is screened) I also use a piece of wood to close the doors as an added level of protection. If I use that, the door would be open a lot more. Because I cannot close the door completely with the wood. I have included pictures of their coop, one of the vent, and what the door would look like if left open with the wood closing up the door (last picture) and having the other one open.

Sorry for the low quality pictures. I am using my tablet, and it has always sucked regarding picture quality and the outdoor movement light was in as well.

Would it be too cold to even open up the door? Even if it is half way opened? I live in Illinois, where it can get way down in the negatives.
Thank you in advance. I am really getting frustrated.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Do you normally use both doors?
Could you make a screen door out of hardware cloth and attach it to one of the doors to leave it open and then only use the other door to go in and out?

 

[Jenjens]

Hello, I only use one door. The door on the left has been nailed down (I don't remember what the point of that was right now) and has hardware cloth on it.
So, I could do that, I just don't know if that would create too much of a draft for them.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Hello, I only use one door. The door on the left has been nailed down (I don't remember what the point of that was right now) and has hardware cloth on it.
So, I could do that, I just don't know if that would create too much of a draft for them.

Does the wind in your are tend to come from that direction?
Mine comes mainly from the west and this is why I build the coop on the east side of the detached garage, it makes a great wind block.

 

[Jenjens]

That is a great question! I will have to go see.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Can you get 2 cheap thermometers from Home Depot that show both temp and humidity?
If you put one in the coop and one near the door outside you can read as you go in and check the one inside right after.
If they are the same or within 5% of each other adding ventilation won't fix it.

If inside is higher than outside by more than 5% try removing all poops and leave the windows open an inch.
I did see that the roosts are close to the windows. They aren't directly in front though so that's good.

A draft strong enough to ruffle their feathers is to much but air does need to move to carry the moisture up and out.

 

[Sueby]

You could get a cheap filter & stuff it in a window. I have one window I leave open all year & put a filter in it in the winter. It allows for fresh air but no breeze/draft.

Think AC or furnace filter. Mine looks sort of like this:

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Single comb cock bird combs will get frostbite no matter what you do. The severity of it is directly due to humidity not temperature. Poor ventilation and they frostbite at 30F. Good ventilation will get you down well below zero with only the point tips freezing. It shouldn't ever get into the meat of the comb just the tips.

I wouldn't leave the door open. The windows are enough for intake air. Open 1/2 inch. The exhaust vent should be on each end of gable. It only takes a hole saw, cordless drill or extension cord, ladder, hardware cloth and stapler. Pop at least three 2 1/2" holes each gable end and staple the wire cloth on inside. Bang! Ventilation that draws air in from each window without drafts (1/2 inch opening) and exhaust vent each gable end. This will vacuum air in and push it out the vents. Not enough to make drafts but plenty to equal inside humidity to outside and rid the shed of fecal gases.

 

[aart]

If you put one in the coop and one near the door outside you can read as you go in and check the one inside right after.
If they are the same or within 5% of each other adding ventilation won't fix it.

Yeppers!

Most the FB I've seen here happens close to 32°F, rather than colder temps.

 

[Jenjens]

Thanks everyone for your help. I will be going to home depot for a thermometer and am going to get a filter for the window. I think that will be the easiest.