Frostbite!

[cowcreekgeek]

Getting chickens was kind of on the spur of the moment and we didn't design the coop to hold windows but I do have an idea. I was thinking, like you said, of cutting out a window and cover it on the inside with chickenwire or some other wire.

Two thoughts ...

1. At the top, so as to prevent weasels/rats/etc. from entering the coop, you could run the gutter guard that looks like miniature expanded metal, so as to fully secure your coop.
2. At some lower point, rather than cutting a window, you could install foundation vents, or simply drill a pattern of holes, or cut multiple vents covered by hardware cloth, etc. You could even replace their door w/ a ventilated panel of some type.

 

[Chickie-chan]

Ok, so then you leave the smaller ventilation holes open all the time?

We got even more snow this morning but not a lot.


I didn't think of using a ventilated panel. I'll have to look into that. Thanks!

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Ok, so then you leave the smaller ventilation holes open all the time?

We got even more snow this morning but not a lot.


I didn't think of using a ventilated panel. I'll have to look into that. Thanks!

Glad to be of any help ... air exchange is too often forgotten, when folks think of protecting their flocks from what we perceive to be cold, but -- if properly acclimated, and dry, they can tolerate far coler temperature than most realize (some breeds well into the negative temperature ranges ~'-)

Dumpster diving, so long as you're careful, is a great source of materials. Goodwill 'n such, too. Anything that will keep predators and mice/rats/squirrels out ... takes a while to punch enough holes w/ a drill to provide sufficient air flow, but I've done that for brooders and boxes, so as to prevent condensation, and require no further protection. Baffles can also be used, so as to prevent driving winds from increasing the flow too much, or force rain/snow inside.

 

[NYRIR]

yes,our ventilation windows (the small ones) are always open.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

yes,our ventilation windows (the small ones) are always open.

So many folks fail to realize they're designed to withstand harsher climates than we are (in fact? most folks keep their dogs entirely too hot, for the very same reason ~'-)

You're providing an xcellent example, in that you're in Petersburg, NY, and keep the smaller ventilation windows open at all times:

​

These are the average and the record low temperatures throughout the year for Petersburg, NY, showing that the lows are below twenty for three months out of the year, and have dipped beyond negative twenty in three different months.

 

[NYRIR]

Yep, that looks right! And I have had one case of frostbite....my rooster with a huge comb.My coop is not insulated and we do not heat it.We did for a couple of weeks 2 years ago when it was brutally cold, and that was the year he got frostbite. Go figure.

 

[Chickie-chan]

That's with us, we didn't think too much about the ventilation and we were thinking more of the cold but of course the ventilation gave us more problems than the actual cold. Since my coop door faces north I was thinking of putting bigger windows on the east and west sides and put smaller ones on north and south. If I put the bigger windows on the east and west it will let more light in. What do you guys think?

 

[cowcreekgeek]

That's with us, we didn't think too much about the ventilation and we were thinking more of the cold but of course the ventilation gave us more problems than the actual cold. Since my coop door faces north I was thinking of putting bigger windows on the east and west sides and put smaller ones on north and south. If I put the bigger windows on the east and west it will let more light in. What do you guys think?

Look into the placement w/in solar design, prior to cuttin' any holes. But, for sure, you wanna give birds all the sun 'n fresh air you can. Windows don't have to be the source of fresh air, either -- they can be fixed panels, which you could even cover at night for better heat retention. And, if you're in an area that has many warm, sunny days but really cold nights? Cinder blocks or bricks ... solar mass ... on the inside helps to better moderate temperatures.

 

[Chickie-chan]

I didn't think of that. I'm so glad I found you guys and girls!
Yesterday as I was spreading Vaseline on her comb small, black flakes of her comb came off. I think it is getting better because underneath it, it was fleshy and pink. Just as an update.

 

[Chickie-chan]

Just now I went to go see my chickens and the other two have frostbite! One of them is an orpington and the other is a barred rock. I don't know what to do! They look miserable. Should I at least bring them in the garage?