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

[2 Acres]

I'm not sure how to do that.

I'm "digitally challenged"...

 

[Debbie292d]

I'm not sure how to do that.

Click the Forum tab and find the forum where your question best fits.

For your question about feed additives, you could post that question in the Feeding & Watering Your Flock Forum.

Here's a great article about how to get around BYC.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/welcome-to-byc.62787/

 

[2 Acres]

Click the Forum tab and find the forum where your question best fits. View attachment 4265795

For your question about feed additives, you could post that question in the Feeding & Watering Your Flock Forum.

Here's a great article about how to get around BYC.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/welcome-to-byc.62787/

Where's the forums tab? I'm digitally challenged.

 

[Debbie292d]

Where's the forums tab? I'm digitally challenged.

At the top of your page.

 

[2 Acres]

Where's the forums tab? I'm digitally challenged.

I don't see what you are talking about

 

[Debbie292d]

I don't see what you are talking about

I would highly recommend you read this article about how to get around in BYC.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/welcome-to-byc.62787/

 

[StinkyAcres]

I don't see what you are talking about

If you're on mobile, tap the three lines icon at the top left.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

H

If you paint it with that Kilz, like @SourRoses suggested, that'd stop it, and keeping the humidity below 70% so it can't grow anyway should be easy now.

how can I keep the coop humidity below 70% if outside is 90% or higher? Thank you!

 

[Debbie292d]

H

how can I keep the coop humidity below 70% if outside is 90% or higher? Thank you!

I think I put what we do somewhere in this thread already, but in case I didn't, we have horribly high humidity here, and here's how we beat it.

First, adding ventilation doesn't help because now you're bringing in that 90% humidity into your coop. Mold will start growing, and the chickens will most likely develop respiratory illnesses.

So to reduce the humidity inside of the coop, no open water. We use DIY nipple buckets.

Now you have to deal with the ammonia from the poop, as that'll make them sick too. We use horse bedding pellets on the floor. Those dry out the poop. Our coops have no odors.

They still need air circulation, though, so we took out one of the two windows, installed a digital exhaust fan, and put a vent in the human door, which leads to the garden shed. That runs if the humidity hits 70% in the coop, which isn't often, as it's usually in the 60s in there.

We also heat the coops to 40°F, which helps in that respect because they free-range when it's 20°F or above and sometimes come back wet or with feet full of snow.

 

[StinkyAcres]

And I thought the midwest was dry! Thanks for posting this @ChickenShepherd_6116, I've learned something. It sounds like without spending a lot of money, frostbite will be unavoidable in your area. I am still confused as it is humid and wet here too, although it is colder here which probably helps dry things out.