Just insulating the nesting box area?

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: Ventlilation is more important than heat.
If you're having moisture or odor problems, it's better to let some air in and out

 

[Alaskan]

-4F isn't that bad for chickens......

the open window, and -4F would be much better and safer than 20F, a closed window, and the resulting high humidity.

 

[Reurra]

Quote:

Ventlilation is more important than heat.
If you're having moisture or odor problems, it's better to let some air in and out

I coddle my birds! lol Im scared to let them get dirty! I keep a deep litter, but I always clean up every evening. However, I did have a little trouble with frostbite on my rooster's wattles last year, but none of the girls had any trouble.

I forgot to ask, how cold is too cold for going outside?

 

[PimentoPlymouth]

Reurra-last year I had a little trouble with frost might and an old chicken farmer down the road told me to out vaseline on there combs and battles about once a weeke and it helped. That being said it sounds easier than it is, I would catch him and my wife would put it on.

 

[maddogVince]

they say an unhealthy barn is air tight it needs some air so do not insulate it to much

 

[Alaskan]

I coddle my birds! lol Im scared to let them get dirty! I keep a deep litter, but I always clean up every evening. However, I did have a little trouble with frostbite on my rooster's wattles last year, but none of the girls had any trouble.

I forgot to ask, how cold is too cold for going outside?

I dunno....

I can't get them to go outside if it is super gusting....

but I wouldn't STOP them from going outside unless it were maybe -40F. Of course, it never gets that cold where I am.

 

[Phoenixxx]

Last winter I had styro insulation on the outside of the nest wall and the lower half (I built a sloped roof) of the ceiling above the roosts done with standard pink insulation. I covered the vent with a plastic recycling bag(we get crazy wind here!) and, when we were under snow cover, closed their "doggy door" to the run at nights. I had no humidity issues, despite being on the atlantic coast, and the coop was cozy enough that I could hang out in it without freezing to death (I don't deal with cold well, tropical blood!). The coop itself is 2x4 construction with 7/16" OSB panelling and a dirt floor. The front wall I did with cedar shingles; the insulated nest wall, back wall and roof were tar-papered. I was also spoiling the chickens with a heatlamp in the evenings.

Over the past couple weeks I've since styro'd the exterior of the back/roost wall (had too much of the stuff laying around, may as well use it!), installed vinyl siding on the nest and roost wall (again, material laying around from a reno job, easier to use it than dispose of it), built a small addition/breeding pen and shingled the roof. The addition got pink insulation under the floor (it's several feet off the ground) but I think that's all I'm doing to it; we're below zero tonight, so i'll poke my head in in the morning and see how it feels first. The wall it protrudes from is also not, and never has been, insulated.

What is or is not too cold depends on the breed you have and where you live/where the coop is situated with respect to exposure. I didn't read this whole thread so someone may have already said this Anyway, if you don't have cold-hardy birds or just want to spoil them, insulation - in my experience - does help. I think you said the nest portion is a protruding box with collection lid? Try styrofoam on the exterior panels (you can probably find it for free if you hunt online classifieds) but BE SURE to cover it with something! (Tar paper, plywood, siding) Don't know why, but chickens LOVE eating styrofoam!

 

[FarmingCityGirl]

I keep my girls locked up most of the winter. I have been tempted to crack open a window on the opposite side of the coop wall away from the birds to allow air in, but it drops down pretty cold at night. If there is a wall between them and the window, would it hurt to crack the window and inch or so to let air flow? Even if temps drop down to the -20C? (-4F)

It sounds like it might be a good idea. I'm guessing it can get pretty stuffy in there with all that poop, feathers, dust, and body heat. Also, from my understanding, you don't want the inside of the coop's temperatures much different than the outside (if they go outside at all) b/c that can make 'em sick. Like how we get sick going from heat to cold and back, they do too.

 

[rancher hicks]

I coddle my birds! lol Im scared to let them get dirty! I keep a deep litter, but I always clean up every evening. However, I did have a little trouble with frostbite on my rooster's wattles last year, but none of the girls had any trouble.

I forgot to ask, how cold is too cold for going outside?

Of course it gets colder where you are, but strangely enough the roosters who experienced frost bite are the ones in my wooden coop. Not my hoop coops. I think it has to do with humidity.

Notice that the fleece doesn't completely cover the front of this coop. The door was closed so i could take the picture.



You can not see it but the other half of the front of this coop is completely uncovered. The roost is on this side. There is a back door and that too had no cover except for the tarp being folded down and held in place with an old door. Some suggest using Burlap over openings too. It will cut the direct wind.

"A chickens' body temperature normally runs at 102-103 degrees F. A rooster takes 18-20 breaths a minute, a hen 30-35. There are over 150 varieties of domestic chickens."

In that breathing is a lot of humidity. Chickens do not sweat. Good ventilation is key to getting rid of that moisture.

If you live in extreme cold areas might could choose a breed that is better for the cold. Rose and Pea comb breeds are good. The Buckeye was developed to do well in cold areas though it does have a straight comb.



the same coop and as you can see the plastic over the run only comes up half way to keep the snow out. While I will admit the rooster would not roost he did not get a frost bitten comb. I got the BR's late in the season so they spent much of the time in a brooder areas with no roost. He and one hen refused to roost after being moved to the coop.

 

[maddogVince]

Yea I am from Ohio originally and my job here in FL is at a Mini Donkey farm we do not have to worry about the cold any more. I see your point. That's the way we are and especially at the the mini donkey farm, the owners of that farm take better care of their animals than some people do their own children. A sad fact but its true. The cleanest farm I have ever seen we have a large machine custom made to vacuum up the donkey poo daily. Like I had said to you we have discussed it at work an unhealthy barn is one sealed up real tight and no air can get in or out. But have to remember what it was like in Ohio. I often find myself complaining when it get in the 60s that's it cold and then say wait it could be a lot worse, and my wife is from Maine so we have been there done that cold thing. Yea keep them warm that's good