Help! My new duck house is WET

[DucksOhio]

Recently, we got a new duck house, as our old one was not at all good for Ohio winters.

We opted to buy a 10 x 20' lofted barn. It's very well made, and keeps the snow and rain out. The 12 ducks like it.

My issue is clearly a ventilation issue. We're getting a lot of condensation on the inside windows, and the straw is very damp, despite my replacing it every day.

We have 3 single pane 3 x 5' windows along one wall of the house. We have yet to open them, as we need to get hardware cloth over them. Although I opened them slightly this morning to see if that would help.

The barn has small vents at the top of the gables, this is clearly not enough.

I immediately thought of a dehumidifier, but that really won't work in cold winters.

Should I leave the windows open a crack? They're well positioned above the duck's height. Should I get some type of wall exhaust fan for the wall opposing the windows?

This wasn't an issue until the weather got very cold. THANKS!

 

[Miss Lydia]

What a nice barn! You can open the windows from the top that’s what I do to help with ventilation but get that hardware cloth so they will be safe a mink,weasel can get through a 1”opening. Beautiful ducks!

 

[FortCluck]

What a nice barn! You can open the windows from the top that’s what I do to help with ventilation but get that hardware cloth so they will be safe a mink,weasel can get through a 1”opening. Beautiful ducks!

Great idea!

 

[Ratchnick]

You could install gable end vents with a fan. For passive venting the rule of thumb is 1sqft of vent per duck. Just guessing the windows look about 3x4 so you would have to open two windows completely minus the other vent.

Also if their water bucket is inside that is a problem.

 

[DucksOhio]

You could install gable end vents with a fan. For passive venting the rule of thumb is 1sqft of vent per duck. Just guessing the windows look about 3x4 so you would have to open two windows completely minus the other vent.

Also if their water bucket is inside that is a problem.

Yep, they have a big feeder bowl of water. But that's really necessary.

I did a little research and ordered a shutter mount exhaust fan:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QXDM2P8/?tag=backy-20

Hopefully this will help.

 

[DucksOhio]

Great idea!

Thanks! I have 5 Welshies 6 khakis and one runner drake.

 

[DucksOhio]

What a nice barn! You can open the windows from the top that’s what I do to help with ventilation but get that hardware cloth so they will be safe a mink,weasel can get through a 1”opening. Beautiful ducks!

Thanks Miss Lydia - Yep, hardware cloth going up today. We don't have minks, but raccoons are our biggest threat.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have never gone to measuring but I have windows on all sides of my largest coop plus ventilation up around the top. and vents up in storage space. Only windows I keep open from the top are my south facing just about half way never had any problems with moisture. There are 16 ducks and 18 chickens in this coop. A lot of moisture to be released for sure.

 

[DucksOhio]

I have never gone to measuring but I have windows on all sides of my largest coop plus ventilation up around the top. and vents up in storage space. Only windows I keep open from the top are my south facing just about half way never had any problems with moisture. There are 16 ducks and 18 chickens in this coop. A lot of moisture to be released for sure.

Wow that’s a lot of birds!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just trying to say ventilation makes all the difference and I also like deep bedding I use horse bedding wood flakes.