- Apr 18, 2011
- 6
- 1
- 7
So I live in Fox, Alaska, and we've hit -40 several times already this year.
Just before snowfall my husband finished our little bird barn, insulation and all, and set up a spare propane heater to keep it above freezing (to reduce chore time: keeping the water thawed). Well the moisture level was outrageous-- above 80% when we finally pulled out (opened) all the vents and the space above the door so our crazy-dry Alaskan air would draw out the moisture.
And that's worked. Moisture's down to 50/60% sometimes (and frost-crystals everywhere-- including freezing the door shut each day; ugh)
But that also means our heat is going out, and by last night's calculation we've gone through $200 of propane this month alone. (We have my rabbits in there too, so it's not all for 2 dozen chickens, but still.)
Realizing that electricity (while still possibly $200/month) would be drier than the propane, swapping heat sources (to an electric heater someone left us) is the next effort, along with re-closing the huge heat-gaps, now that the heat's not adding moisture. But Everything I've read says chix are wet birds, so I'm nervously anticipating the problem to return.
Does anyone else have ideas about reducing the moisture level in the coop? Back at the beginning it was just *nuts*. We both wear glasses and couldn't even see to do our chores as long as we were in there.
Just before snowfall my husband finished our little bird barn, insulation and all, and set up a spare propane heater to keep it above freezing (to reduce chore time: keeping the water thawed). Well the moisture level was outrageous-- above 80% when we finally pulled out (opened) all the vents and the space above the door so our crazy-dry Alaskan air would draw out the moisture.
And that's worked. Moisture's down to 50/60% sometimes (and frost-crystals everywhere-- including freezing the door shut each day; ugh)
But that also means our heat is going out, and by last night's calculation we've gone through $200 of propane this month alone. (We have my rabbits in there too, so it's not all for 2 dozen chickens, but still.)
Realizing that electricity (while still possibly $200/month) would be drier than the propane, swapping heat sources (to an electric heater someone left us) is the next effort, along with re-closing the huge heat-gaps, now that the heat's not adding moisture. But Everything I've read says chix are wet birds, so I'm nervously anticipating the problem to return.
Does anyone else have ideas about reducing the moisture level in the coop? Back at the beginning it was just *nuts*. We both wear glasses and couldn't even see to do our chores as long as we were in there.