I'm about to give up on chickens

[BlindLemonChicken]

Chickens can create their own moisture. Someone with more knowledge than me should be able to help but its late so I think for peace of mind bring the solo hen in for the night. Bandit died during the day though so probably not the coop. Wish I could be more helpful

 

[3KillerBs]

We've sealed the windows on either end for winter

I'm sorry to have to say this, but there is nowhere near enough ventilation.

The usual guideline is 1 square foot per adult, standard-sized hen of 24/7/365 ventilation -- best located above the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

Chickens, like all birds, have extremely delicate respiratory systems -- remember the canary in the coal mine thing? -- and need a generous supply of fresh air at all times.

-7C, 19F, is not cold to a chicken because they have built-in down parkas.

I'm not knowlegable about chicken diseases and injuries so I can't help you with any ideas about what happened to your lost bird, but poor ventilation will certainly cause trouble over the long term.

Here's a great article on cold-weather chicken keeping: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

My coop is currently similar to yours except the door to the run is on the floor of the coop and I leave it open at night so they get more ventilation. We are adding onto the coop in the spring to expand it and add more roosts and ventilation. Right now I have little pullets but most of them are moving out and i will have six birds in twice the space. Because I have chickens (they have their own setup) who came to me with respiratory problems I am not satisfied with my current coop but we got it livable before bad weather so I have to settle for that. I don't think your coop killed Bandit. How is her friend?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I see your run door is in the same place. I don't know if keeping it open helps but I don't have any other options right now. Maybe you could just unseal the windows? I have hardware cloth over mine.

 

[Folly's place]

We've had sudden deaths out there, and I necropsy everything, and sometimes it's a broken neck, a bird misjudging and flying into a wall. Sometimes a heart issue, sometimes an abdominal infection of one sort or another. Birds are very motivated to act fine until they just can't, so it may actually not be such a sudden illness, just not obvious to you.
So sorry for your loss!
Two chickens is a hard number, because then you have one chicken, not good at all. Get more at once, and fix your coop issues too.
Mary

 

[JacksonChickies]

I'm sorry to have to say this, but there is nowhere near enough ventilation.

The usual guideline is 1 square foot per adult, standard-sized hen of 24/7/365 ventilation -- best located above the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

Chickens, like all birds, have extremely delicate respiratory systems -- remember the canary in the coal mine thing? -- and need a generous supply of fresh air at all times.

-7C, 19F, is not cold to a chicken because they have built-in down parkas.

I'm not knowlegable about chicken diseases and injuries so I can't help you with any ideas about what happened to your lost bird, but poor ventilation will certainly cause trouble over the long term.

Here's a great article on cold-weather chicken keeping: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

Don't apologize, this is my first experience with chickens so any knowledge is amazing.

I forgot to mention in my earlier posts that there is also a ½ in gap along the bottom of the roof line all the way around, and I realize this is probably still not enough ventilation. Would you recommend opening the window on the roost end of the coop, or the other??

 

[JacksonChickies]

My coop is currently similar to yours except the door to the run is on the floor of the coop and I leave it open at night so they get more ventilation. We are adding onto the coop in the spring to expand it and add more roosts and ventilation. Right now I have little pullets but most of them are moving out and i will have six birds in twice the space. Because I have chickens (they have their own setup) who came to me with respiratory problems I am not satisfied with my current coop but we got it livable before bad weather so I have to settle for that. I don't think your coop killed Bandit. How is her friend?

Fluffy was good this morning. A little perturbed we kept poking at her before sunrise, but good otherwise

 

[3KillerBs]

I forgot to mention in my earlier posts that there is also a ½ in gap along the bottom of the roof line all the way around, and I realize this is probably still not enough ventilation. Would you recommend opening the window on the roost end of the coop, or the other??

Yes, that crack is too small, square inches instead of square feet.

Unfortunately, gambrel roofs are difficult to ventilate, but what you need is to open the top of the gables on both ends -- adding some kind of awning to keep rain and snow out.

This article shows how to extend a roof overhang perpendicular to the joists: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...e-overhangs-eaves-of-a-shed-coop-house.76599/

Can you show us some interior photos of the coop? We might be able to make helpful suggestions if we can see what you're looking at.

Also, if you add your general location to your profile it will help people to understand just what sort of conditions you're coping with.

 

[JacksonChickies]

I see your run door is in the same place. I don't know if keeping it open helps but I don't have any other options right now. Maybe you could just unseal the windows? I have hardware cloth over mine.

So do we, I just was worried about drafts and too cold. We live up above a lake and we get some NASTY frigid winds

 

[JacksonChickies]

This is an interior picture from the door leading into the run