Humidity in Winter

[AshHaynes]

I am struggling with humidity in my coop. We had problems last year, our first year with a big coop and more chickens. Its an old coop that came with our property. I sealed up cracks and added ventilation at the top but i cannot get the humidity below 70%. It's driving me crazy! What can I do? I added PDZ and fresh pine shavings. The water is outside. We leave the front door cracked and the small run door open every day and the humidity seems to always stay high. (Heat lamp is not on, we only use it if it gets -16 or less and it's a ceramic bulb so it doesn't produce a huge amount of heat)

 

[cavemanrich]

I looked at your pictures, and can see that you have INSUFFICIENT VENTILATION.
Right now it is winter and not IDEAL TIME to do much remodeling. I suggest the easiest solution at this time ; AN ELECTRIC POWER VENT. Install it inside and run continuously. Install in gable opposite the chicken pop door. Should remove the humidity well.
Something like this

When warmer weather arrives, you can install sufficient ventilation, that will work without any electric fans. Does get somewhat involved. You do need to read up more on VENTILATION, and when you have a good understanding, you will have SUCCESS.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[DobieLover]

Is your run predator proof? All I see covering the windows is chicken wire. That window looks like it is at and below roost level. Does wind reach the birds on the roosts?

You've got a nice overhang on the gable ends so you can use a sawzall and cut open the gable peaks by removing all the siding between the framing (rafters, top plate and uprights) where the black lines are then installing 1/2" hardware cloth over the openings:

In the spring, I'd remove the cap shingles and cut back 1-1.5" of the roof and decking on either side of the roof peak (shown by the blue lines) and install a ridge vent and new cap shingles.

Spring would also be the time to frame out some more windows. You can use the siding for a window cover and just install 1/2" HC on the inside of the opening on the framing to secure.

Also on a safety note, I'm sure you know the risks of using a heat lamp in a coop so I'm not going into that. But if you are going to do it regardless of those risks, you need to secure it far better than just using that clamp. You need to secure chains to the hood and attach them to the rafters. Also, if you are going to do it, I'd wipe the bulb off with a dry cloth every time before turning it on to remove any dust from the surface. Good luck. I hope you don't need it in future winters when you get your ventilation squared away.

 

[aart]

I sealed up cracks and added ventilation at the top but i cannot get the humidity below 70%. It's driving me crazy! What can I do?

First, what's the humidity outside the coop?
You can't get it 'drier' inside than outside.

Also....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[AshHaynes]

Is your run predator proof? All I see covering the windows is chicken wire. That window looks like it is at and below roost level. Does wind reach the birds on the roosts?

You've got a nice overhang on the gable ends so you can use a sawzall and cut open the gable peaks by removing all the siding between the framing (rafters, top plate and uprights) where the black lines are then installing 1/2" hardware cloth over the openings:
View attachment 2006002

In the spring, I'd remove the cap shingles and cut back 1-1.5" of the roof and decking on either side of the roof peak (shown by the blue lines) and install a ridge vent and new cap shingles.

Spring would also be the time to frame out some more windows. You can use the siding for a window cover and just install 1/2" HC on the inside of the opening on the framing to secure.

Also on a safety note, I'm sure you know the risks of using a heat lamp in a coop so I'm not going into that. But if you are going to do it regardless of those risks, you need to secure it far better than just using that clamp. You need to secure chains to the hood and attach them to the rafters. Also, if you are going to do it, I'd wipe the bulb off with a dry cloth every time before turning it on to remove any dust from the surface. Good luck. I hope you don't need it in future winters when you get your ventilation squared away.

Thank you for the suggestions. Our windows are glass windows and right now they stay shut in winter and have plastic over them on the outside to keep cold air drafts out so no drafts are on the chickens. The heat lamp has not been used this year, it was just clipped there during the summer when I was building new roosts and taking old nesting boxes out. I definelty want to install more ventilation in the roof, I was pregnant and then had a newborn this last summer so this spring I will be good to get on the remodel!

 

[AshHaynes]

First, what's the humidity outside the coop?
You can't get it 'drier' inside than outside.

Also....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!
View attachment 2006078

I am in WI and it's middle of winter. A budding 5 degrees withe -20 degree winds today. Not sure on the outside humidity, guess I assumed it was not very high due to the cold. I will have to test that, good idea

 

[AshHaynes]

I looked at your pictures, and can see that you have INSUFFICIENT VENTILATION.
Right now it is winter and not IDEAL TIME to do much remodeling. I suggest the easiest solution at this time ; AN ELECTRIC POWER VENT. Install it inside and run continuously. Install in gable opposite the chicken pop door. Should remove the humidity well.
Something like this
View attachment 2005947
When warmer weather arrives, you can install sufficient ventilation, that will work without any electric fans. Does get somewhat involved. You do need to read up more on VENTILATION, and when you have a good understanding, you will have SUCCESS.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Will that fan be safe with all the dust from the chickens? Where would I buy such a fan?!

 

[blackdog043]

First, what's the humidity outside the coop?
You can't get it 'drier' inside than outside.

Exactly, find out what the outside humidity is, before adding a fan.

 

[Folly's place]

I would add hardware cloth over all the openings, and open the upper window sashes, at least one of them, at least a few inches, so there's more ventilation soon.
It shouldn't be more humid in there than outside, and your coop is very underventilated. If the windows are on the leeward side of the coop, that would be perfect! If they are on the windward side, could you add a solid panel, hinged at the top of the window, to act as a windbreak? There's a name for this, and I'm blanking out right now...
Mary

 

[aart]

If they are on the windward side, could you add a solid panel, hinged at the top of the window, to act as a windbreak? There's a name for this, and I'm blanking out right now...

Top hinged window?
...or baffle.
Here's a pretty good example of adding a damper(or baffle) standing off away from the opening, air flow still there but direct wind is blocked(or dampened):
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ventilation-got-you-baffled.75407/

I jammed some furnace filter material into my open soffit vents to block snow from blowing in....shade cloth material can work too.