Grr, why is this happening

[NNYchick]

my Silkies have frost on top of their feathers this morning. We were -10 last night with the windchill but about zero in the coop. I have a 2ftx16ft open area on the east wall for ventilation it runs the length of the middle 16 ft section and all other windows closed, none of the coop has frost. I have 16 Silkies in 28ft x 8ft, it is open end to end the long way. Anyone else have Silkies that have seen this. The only thing I can think of is it’s the way they sleep piled up. No one has signs of frost bite or seem stressed. This happened last year that’s why we built on the 8x8 section so they would have a more enclosed area, but left it open to the 16ft area for ventilation. Just not sure what to do. Any suggestions?

 

[Izzychicky]

Is your coop humid or a little wet, because if any water gets ont their feathers it can turn into frost.

 

[123RedBeard]

Not knowing about silkies ... but, you said they sleep in a pile ... guessing that they don't roost ... if this is the case ... it may be their breath is frosting their sisters they are snuggling with ... ???

 

[NNYchick]

Yes they all sleep together in a pile, I was thinking it’s there breath on each other too, or there big fluffy crest are a magnet of the moist air as the breath. They have roosts, they use them during the day but at night they just pick a corner and all huddle together,which is typical for Silkies. There is no dampness or wet areas in the coop. I just curious what I might be missing, sometimes fresh eyes on a situation picks up something that is being overlooked or if anyone else has this with their Silkies.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

How is the coop ventilated? Is it under the overhang?

 

[aart]

It could very well be because of the piling...and the fluffy.
Since they can access the roosts, I'd start putting them up there after dark until they get with the program.
Was going to suggest further examination of humidity, but if no frost anywhere else in the sleeping part of coop it's probably not necessary.

 

[NNYchick]

Well now I have condensation. We have warmed up to 40 degrees and everything is melting. It’s not just the coop the it’s just humid out. I opened all the windows and spread a thick layer of AG lime on the bedding and mixed it in with a pitchfork. I’m debating whether I should add more shaving or wait till it’s less humid? Any other suggestions?

 

[aart]

Well now I have condensation. We have warmed up to 40 degrees and everything is melting. It’s not just the coop the it’s just humid out. I opened all the windows and spread a thick layer of AG lime on the bedding and mixed it in with a pitchfork. I’m debating whether I should add more shaving or wait till it’s less humid? Any other suggestions?

I have beau-coup ventilation and get condensation inside the coop during thaws, especially if there's still snow on the roof. Adding more bedding or stuff to bedding to absorb the moisture won't help much, IMO. Just wait.

This roof is 1x boards with tar paper and asphalt shingles...and a foot of snow during a thaw the underside was running with condensation. Bedding was damp...took days to dry back out....then another thaw. SMH.

 

[NNYchick]

That’s what I was thinking about the bedding too. I’ll add fresh when we freeze again. I stress too much about this coop. I’m always worried I’m doing something wrong that will hurt them. The chickens are happily going about their business and don’t seem stressed. I’ll take my cues from them.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Hoard frost on their feathers is a sure sign that you have insufficient ventilation in your coop. Silkes are for a better word "OPEN" feathered so they are a little less insulated from the cold as tight feathered chickens are.

Lose the idea of wind chill. Wind chill was first invented in WWII by the US Navy who experimented in the Antarctic with gallon buckets of water suspended 100 feet in the air. Wind chill is a way of determining how much faster heat is lost from water as the wind speed rises. You are quite capable of freezing to death at +50 degrees F if you are exposed t0 50F moving air... long enough.