Is frostbite avoidable without electric heating? Should I add heat to my coop?

[Bsmac]

The fact that you're getting frostbite at 20s-30s indicates you need more ventilation, not heat. I have birds choosing to sleep next to open windows in the single digits and haven't ever had frostbite.

You mentioned doing deep litter - is that true deep litter which is a moist composting system, or did you mean deep bedding (a dry, non composting system)? Both deep litter, and adding jugs of warm water, would only increase the humidity and the temperature range at which you'd get frostbite.

Not a fan of deep litter in the coop or run! As you and other members have mentioned moisture is the enemy! Deep litter will just add more of it! IMHO!

 

[saysfaa]

A cupola!!! Awesome!!! That and an air intake low should do wonderfully. I would have thought your pop door would be doing the air intake.

Most pop doors are about 1 sq ft and that cupola looks like about a square foot. Two square feet of opening for air is rule of thumb enough for two chickens. But a cupola works better than nearly every other option. I'm not sure how much better, though. Maybe I can find some guidelines.

 

[saysfaa]

Evidently, cupolas work best when they are open on all four sides. I assumed yours is but I'm not sure from the picture.

Also, the louvers are essential for airflow as well as keeping rain out.

Since your design is almost working well enough already, I think this should solve your problem.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

A cupola!!! Awesome!!! That and an air intake low should do wonderfully. I would have thought your pop door would be doing the air intake.

Most pop doors are about 1 sq ft and that cupola looks like about a square foot. Two square feet of opening for air is rule of thumb enough for two chickens. But a cupola works better than nearly every other option. I'm not sure how much better, though. Maybe I can find some guidelines.

Well I'm glad I have good ventilation! For my own peace of mind, I have decided to get a Avitech Infrared heat panel made for chicken coops. No fire hazard and it omits a gentle heat that they can feel when they get close to it - it help raise their body temp.

 

[McChooky]

Absolutely.

In the seven years I've been keeping chickens every winter we've gone sub-zero at some point or another.

I've had frostbite on two males. The first time it was -23F and my single comb rooster got a mild case of frostbite dubbing. The second time was last year when a cockerel with huge wattles dunked them into the fount waterer and the ends froze. Other than that, I've had no frostbite in my flock.

I have approximately 17 sq ft of permanently open ventilation in the ridge vent, gable vents and soffit vents along with two windows cracked open away from the roosting area and two pop doors that are kept open year round. I have no insulation in my coop.
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If you have adequate ventilation over your birds heads with some way for fresh air to come in down low you should not have any frostbite. Also, keep the coop is dry as possible. If you have any water source in the coop at all it needs to come out.

THis is still my favorite coop of them all!

 

[DobieLover]

THis is still my favorite coop of them all!

Mine too!!!