Humidy level is 60 inside coop and run. Outside its 97 humidity level. Can this be possible?

[Livvydays]

I'm confused about humidity level. The temp it 30 degrees F currently. It will get down to -8 tonight and I'm concerned about the humidity level in addition to the cold temps tonight. I read that the humidity should be below 60 but not sure how much more I can do to lower the humidity level. I have an uninsulated coop. Thanks in advance!

 

[Debbie292d]

We're in Wisconsin, and our proximity here has high humidity averaging 70s year round. We fought with this a decade ago, even had bleeding windows.

We couldn't add more vents in the roof, so replaced a window with an exhaust fan and a "cold air return" vent in the human door.

We put down horse bedding pellets, which absorb the poop, and made DIY water buckets so no open water. Our coops are heated to 40F so the water doesn't freeze, but one outdoor pen we use a fishtank heater plugged into a thermo cube.

Most of the time our humidity is in the 70s and sometimes higher. Our coops stay in the mid 60s.

 

[Livvydays]

I had to Google what you meant by bleeding windows. You had moisture running down the windows is that what you are saying?

I have put sweet peeze ( if I remember the name of it) in the bedding inside the coop and in the sand in the run this morning to absorb moisture. To be honest I don't know if I fully trust the humidity meters because if you buy different brands they all read different! Really frustrating when I had 3 of them all very different readings. Maybe I just need to rely on what my windows look like and only worry if I see any foggy?

My coop and run are not heated at all.

I keep the water in the run and not in the coop.

 

[Mrs. K]

Really, it is not worth worrying over. I refuse to worry about things I cannot change. Dry bedding, and good ventilation is what you can and have done. Don't let the manure build up in the coop if it is above 32F. Frozen manure releases almost no moisture.

Look at the walls and ceiling after the birds are roosting, if moisture is building up on them, open more ventilation. I have my roost more in the middle of the coop, away from the walls, and low enough so that their heads are a foot to 15 inches below the ceiling. This lets the higher energy warm moist air, rise away from them and out the ventilation.

Now, think of a kid on a bike, do they have scabby knees? Pretty much, and they live to tell the tale. A lot of frost bite is about the same thing. You might have combs get nipped a bit, but for the most part it bothers people more than chickens.

Mrs K

 

[Debbie292d]

You had moisture running down the windows is that what you are saying?

Yes. Then when it got below zero outside, it would freeze. The humidity in the coop was higher than it was outside so back then is when we fixed it.

I have put sweet peeze

Sweet PDZ, you were close. That does help a little. I use that on the poop trays for easier cleaning. Pellets on the floor keep the coop dry and maintenance-free as they scratch them around. We change them about once a year in the main coop and every couple of months in the breeding pens.

Mold can start growing at 70% humidity, so indeed it IS something to worry about as they can get respiratory infections from high humidity alone. Add a few mold spores and you'll have very sick chickens.

We bought these 1/11/2020. They've been working just fine.

 

[Livvydays]

Thank you again everyone for your input! It's really appreciated! I feel better. I'm keeping a note card with these little tips to help me as a quick reference when I need it.

I fed them some extra protein and part of a bird suet cake for some extra fat to help them on extra cold nights like tonight will be.