HELP with ventilation please, frostbite on comb

[carlaashdown]

You can see the triangle area just below the roof that I can prop open on either side depending on wind direction. Remember, both upper and lower soffits are open also. All are covered in HC.

I love it! What a great idea!

 

[mowin]

I love it! What a great idea!

I still get frostbite. But I've done everything that has been recommended on this forum regarding ventilation, plus...

Regardless, frostbite might happen. Doesn't make you a bad chicken keeper or a monster like some posts might inadvertently make you out to be.

 

[Banana01]

It is cold and windy today. Tonight, it is going to be 24 with 20+mph winds, so the wind chill will be in the teens. (temps are

Wind chill should not effect the indoor temp of your coop, which should be 20 deg F.

Suggest reading these articles:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/winter-coop-temperatures.47763/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop.47774/

 

[Mistycarmony84]

We live in SE Georgia where it is normally hot and humid. It's been abnormally cold and windy for a couple weeks, but naturally we still have the humidity. We can handle the hot, we know what to do, but this cold and damp is different.

It is cold and windy today. Tonight, it is going to be 24 with 20+mph winds, so the wind chill will be in the teens. (temps are Fahrenheit)

My coop is a 10x12 converted shed with several large windows as well as ventilation we added in the roof peaks. This ventilation works well for us in our normal climate.

Currently, the inside temp is the same as the outside temp. So, at night it's been 30 outside - inside temp is the same.

No drafts, no unsealed holes. There is no condensation inside - walls, ceiling, or windows. The floor is suspended, wood, and I have it covered with vinyl flooring for easy clean up. I have about 4 inches of pine shavings on the floor. I cannot smell any ammonia. Their roost is about 4.5 feet off the floor with a poop tray underneath that I clean daily. I use DE and PDZ on the poop tray, but have added dry shavings daily to help with the cooler temps. Since the roost is near the wall - which is uninsulated metal - I hung curtains a week or so ago as a barrier between them and the wall, so they wouldn't be directly up against the cold metal. Behind the roost only, not the whole coop. Just used what I had to be frugal, since we don't normally need to winterize much, and it won't be up there long.

Seven chickens, big walk-in coop space with high ceilings.

I have been closing the windows and the pop door. Windows are the same height as their roosts. Pop door is, of course, on the floor.

*I'll post a picture of the roost, window, pop door relation.

This morning, I have two chickens with mild frostbite on their combs. Obviously, that is moisture related and likely due to our humidity combined with the abnormally cold, windy temps. I can't change the humidity. I keep the coop clean and dry.

My question: Should I keep the pop door open to increase circulation from the floor up to the roof vents? What else can I do?

I add heat lamps and try using vasaline to help PREVENT getting frost bite put it on wattles , combs, and feet

 

[NaperLix]

Chickens need heat.cozy panels work well.they can stand near.
I have many in each coop.Small coops work better though.
bring them in ,-21 last week by me,their in.dog kennels whatever.Fed ,warm their happy.Let out short times to stretch Outside day.
My farmer friends use the scary heat lamps but they are careful.They have on on off thermostat at ,tractor supply has them.Comes on below freezing.

 

[aart]

try using vasaline to help PREVENT getting frost bite put it on wattles , combs, and feet

Vaseline, or any other 'goop' will not prevent FB.

 

[Our6peeps]

We live in SE Georgia where it is normally hot and humid. It's been abnormally cold and windy for a couple weeks, but naturally we still have the humidity. We can handle the hot, we know what to do, but this cold and damp is different.

It is cold and windy today. Tonight, it is going to be 24 with 20+mph winds, so the wind chill will be in the teens. (temps are Fahrenheit)

My coop is a 10x12 converted shed with several large windows as well as ventilation we added in the roof peaks. This ventilation works well for us in our normal climate.

Currently, the inside temp is the same as the outside temp. So, at night it's been 30 outside - inside temp is the same.

No drafts, no unsealed holes. There is no condensation inside - walls, ceiling, or windows. The floor is suspended, wood, and I have it covered with vinyl flooring for easy clean up. I have about 4 inches of pine shavings on the floor. I cannot smell any ammonia. Their roost is about 4.5 feet off the floor with a poop tray underneath that I clean daily. I use DE and PDZ on the poop tray, but have added dry shavings daily to help with the cooler temps. Since the roost is near the wall - which is uninsulated metal - I hung curtains a week or so ago as a barrier between them and the wall, so they wouldn't be directly up against the cold metal. Behind the roost only, not the whole coop. Just used what I had to be frugal, since we don't normally need to winterize much, and it won't be up there long.

Seven chickens, big walk-in coop space with high ceilings.

I have been closing the windows and the pop door. Windows are the same height as their roosts. Pop door is, of course, on the floor.

*I'll post a picture of the roost, window, pop door relation.

This morning, I have two chickens with mild frostbite on their combs. Obviously, that is moisture related and likely due to our humidity combined with the abnormally cold, windy temps. I can't change the humidity. I keep the coop clean and dry.

My question: Should I keep the pop door open to increase circulation from the floor up to the roof vents? What else can I do?

We are in North GA with similar problems. We covered their combs and waffles with Vaseline and put crates, which we covered with a painters drop cloth, to create smaller spaces where their body heat will keep it warm.

 

[Vicker]

I live in Texas. Last winter was the first time any of mine got frostbite. I have an open air metal coop and put hard plastic panels over most of the openings in winter. There are still open gaps for ventilation. Last winter the temp fell below zero and remained below freezing for several days in a row. I think my mistake was putting a heat lamp and their electric water bucket in there. I've never done that with adults before. We're in a days-long freeze now with snow and ice. I didn't use the lamp and left the water outside. I haven't noticed any frostbite yet.

 

[helicopterchickenmom]

The first year we had chickens we wrapped the coop and run in visqueen. Being the helicopter chicken parents we are, it was practically vacuum sealed. As soon as the first cold temps set in I found frost on The Girls backs in the morning.

After two days of this and much reading I learned it was too airtight. Their own trapped breath was causing this. I put slits up high in the visqueen so there was more ventilation without drafts on them. Worked great. No more frost that winter or any winters after.

It seems to be a balance you must find. That would be a trick when you're not used to cold weather just as it was a trick for us, not being used to having chickens. Hope you can find it.

 

[James head]

I think your ventilation is fine, I would not open the door. I live in the same locale as you, but in S.Car.. I would not worry about minor frostbite only a little drop in fertile eggs. And if your are adjusting your feed program, do so. Feed alot of whole and cracked grain at evening feeding and grit. This will help your birds stay warmer at night. JH