I have a very old hen house, not a coop, and the floors and walls are oak boards that have shrunken over the years to leave large gaps in between. One whole wall is open areas covered with wire, as is a large opening in the opposite wall. These I cover with plastic and some of the largest gaps are covered with cardboard boxes laid flat. The pop door is open 24/7 all year round.
These gaps, which I refer to as "adequate ventilation" allow many, many drafts to blow on my chickens while they roost and go about their chickeny lives. They also free range all year and are practically blown across the yard sometimes as they still forage during the winter months, as snow coverage allows. I've never had a sick bird in my flocks. They seem very content and active all winter long, despite my drafty old hen house.
I don't necessarily think the drafts are the problem but the high humidity in some coops caused by being too well insulated, wood shaving bedding and populated by warm, breathing birds each night and day. Put a draft on that coop and I could see some sick birds resulting~ too much fluctuation between warm and cold.
The only concession I make to winter here is to plastic the windows and lay down new deep litter of pine shavings and paper shreds. Since using deep litter, I don't get frost bit combs anymore.
These gaps, which I refer to as "adequate ventilation" allow many, many drafts to blow on my chickens while they roost and go about their chickeny lives. They also free range all year and are practically blown across the yard sometimes as they still forage during the winter months, as snow coverage allows. I've never had a sick bird in my flocks. They seem very content and active all winter long, despite my drafty old hen house.
I don't necessarily think the drafts are the problem but the high humidity in some coops caused by being too well insulated, wood shaving bedding and populated by warm, breathing birds each night and day. Put a draft on that coop and I could see some sick birds resulting~ too much fluctuation between warm and cold.
The only concession I make to winter here is to plastic the windows and lay down new deep litter of pine shavings and paper shreds. Since using deep litter, I don't get frost bit combs anymore.
