Illinois...

[SnootyHen]

Note the awesome use of a ladder for its intended purpose.

 

[cavemanrich]

Just an observation looking at your coop. Is there any other ventilation other than the roof vent? Do you close the pop door into run for the night?
suggestions;;#1, do check to determine if there is ammonia smell present in coop when you open in morning.
Suggestion;; #2 get a humidity meter and have it inside coop. You can get a second one to measure outdoor humidity also. (or check outdoor humidity on weather forecast/current temperatures online, for your area)
If your coop humidity is significantly higher, than outdoor, then danger of frostbite is elevated
One quick solution to increasing ventilation, is to have the roof vent as a power vent. I have seen peeps convert computer cooling fans to power vent application, and run on a battery for extended periods of time. Electricity in coop, and a 5 volt transformer/power supply is also option.

 

[SnootyHen]

Just an observation looking at your coop. Is there any other ventilation other than the roof vent? Do you close the pop door into run for the night?
suggestions;;#1, do check to determine if there is ammonia smell present in coop when you open in morning.
Suggestion;; #2 get a humidity meter and have it inside coop. You can get a second one to measure outdoor humidity also. (or check outdoor humidity on weather forecast/current temperatures online, for your area)
If your coop humidity is significantly higher, than outdoor, then danger of frostbite is elevated
One quick solution to increasing ventilation, is to have the roof vent as a power vent. I have seen peeps convert computer cooling fans to power vent application, and run on a battery for extended periods of time. Electricity in coop, and a 5 volt transformer/power supply is also option.

So far I haven't noticed any ammonia smell and I do have a bluetooth temp/humidity sensor inside the coop. It's usually pretty close to the same as outside give or take a few. I contemplated cutting some holes in the back top portion right under the roof but ever since getting the thermo/hygro and seeing it seems to be decent in there, I didn't do it. My only fear is if we get a ton of snow on the roof I guess I am going to be out there clearing it ASAP. I hadn't thought about that until it was too late of course.

I do wish I'd have gone higher with the windows and lower with the roosts in order to make venting above the windows an option but it's too late for that now.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Just an observation looking at your coop. Is there any other ventilation other than the roof vent? Do you close the pop door into run for the night?
suggestions;;#1, do check to determine if there is ammonia smell present in coop when you open in morning.
Suggestion;; #2 get a humidity meter and have it inside coop. You can get a second one to measure outdoor humidity also. (or check outdoor humidity on weather forecast/current temperatures online, for your area)
If your coop humidity is significantly higher, than outdoor, then danger of frostbite is elevated
One quick solution to increasing ventilation, is to have the roof vent as a power vent. I have seen peeps convert computer cooling fans to power vent application, and run on a battery for extended periods of time. Electricity in coop, and a 5 volt transformer/power supply is also option.

I believe she just went to pdz, doesn't that control humidity?

 

[SnootyHen]

I believe she just went to pdz, doesn't that control humidity?

Yup, coop is all PDZ, the run is part sand and part PDZ and even the brooder is PDZ now. I do have pine shavings in the nesting boxes. Thinking about adding some straw to them for the winter but it sure doesn't seem very comfortable.

 

[cavemanrich]

PDZ will dry up the wetness on the ground, (from fallen gumdrops) as well as neutralize the ammonia, but I don't know if it will control the humidity that is generated with chicken's breath???
It is good that you have the thermo/hygro in there. Lets you monitor the humidity in coop.
When temps really drop low,,,, that is when the humidity becomes more of an issue.
Some frostbite even with our best attempts, just cant be avoided in chickens with large combs, and long wattles.

 

[Faraday40]

My 1st year I made the mistake of putting vents over the side openings (limiting air flow) and completely closing the window. I thought it was enough ventilation. Needless to say a couple chickens got some frostbite. I actually saw some crystals on the ceiling when we had some below zero temps. The birds healed, but I felt very bad.

The next year, I left the vents off and also cracked the window. No frostbite - except for one roo with a giant comb when we had an extreme polar vortex. His tips got rounded, but didn't fall off. There's not much you can do when temps go below -20'F.

 

[SnootyHen]

With the slanted roof, I could potentially put some extra ventilation in the very top of the high part of the roof without completely having to redo everything but I can't put any on the opposite side because the low side is too close to their heads where they roost. So would venting on one side with no cross be helpful or not enough to justify doing it? The rest of the coop is insulated so it has an inside and outside wall but at the very top, there's a spot where the inside wall does not meet the roof and I could get something there.

 

[Molpet]

With the slanted roof, I could potentially put some extra ventilation in the very top of the high part of the roof without completely having to redo everything but I can't put any on the opposite side because the low side is too close to their heads where they roost. So would venting on one side with no cross be helpful or not enough to justify doing it? The rest of the coop is insulated so it has an inside and outside wall but at the very top, there's a spot where the inside wall does not meet the roof and I could get something there.

It would be better than nothing

The south side of my coops are mainly open for ventilation. Cattle panel hoop coops with clearing tarps over and plastic sheeting on the north side

 

[Faraday40]

@SnootyHen
Interesting read for you. (It took me a while to find the article again) I often put my chicks into the run (inside a rabbit cage or walled off corner + a mama heating pad - or actual broody hen) when they are 1-2 weeks old.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/

If I am not keeping the chicks, I raise them in the garage until sold. This is for biosecurity so I do not have visitors walking around the chicken area.