Minnesota!

[KlopKlop]

@KlopKlop
  Do you know what kind of comfrey you have?  I was looking at getting some but was worried it would not make it through the winters here.  I would like some more info on it if you have time.  

I have the Bocking 14 cultivar which is sterile. I planted it from root cuttings early this spring and it seems to be doing well with many large leafs per plant. I have not harvested more than one or two leafs so that the roots are not stressed this year.

This cultivar is supposed To be hardy in zones 4-9 and I am right on the cusp of 4a and 4b. I have not yet overwintered it but it seems like they are establishing well.

My plan is to harvest all the leaves as they die off or right before first frost then I will dry them to feed to the hens over winter. My goal is to feed both fresh during the growing season AND dry it in the future

 

[Rhetts]

I have a hoop coop made out of cattle panels and a tarp. The north end is plywood and the south end is completely hardware cloth. With a completely open coop on the south side.....I still had some moisture issues and frostbite. You can not have too much ventilation as long as you can limit the air movement. Warm moist air rises and the higher you can get your vents the better.

Very nice coop. I wish I could have a coop like that.

Thanks Nikon. I thought I wanted air movement in the coop?! I really have no idea what I am doing here.

So should there be more vents letting air in on the north side or should there be more vents on the south side letting air out (usually). Or more on both ends? Really sorry for over analyzing things here. By my error I lost my first flock because of the ventilation. I can't do that again!!! I want to be sure they are going to be OK.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Nice big coop Loretta. Are you going to cover the bottom some how so you don't get moisture and rot? That's too nice of coop not to have jacked up off the ground. Did you frame the floor with joists to pop it up? I love all the head space in there and that will help remove moisture from tops of combs. Gabled roofs require a whirly gig stove pipe vent thingy. If it was a simple slant it would ride all out and out the highest wall. And for frostbite issues moisture is the enemy for certain. But historically my worst issues came in late October November when rain is turning to snow. ( wet and cold) and relative humidity was the same in the coop as outside or slightly better in the coop (20-30 F); and when it was -20 or colder for weeks at a time and combs started to give. Cold is cold and there is not much humidity in air at -20 to -40. It's then time to add a bit of "safe" heat to lean you back to 0 or so. That's how I winter birds. There are adjustments to venting, heating everyday depending on what my weather app says.

Edited to add that my winter goal is to keep birds winterized to 0 degrees. They don't like any thing below that much-- they stay on the roost if lower than 0 for the most part. I also keep poop frozen and removed from the coop. So my coop is never heated above 32 unless Mother Nature turns up the heat for the day. 0-31 F are my winter goals in the coop.

 

[KlopKlop]

Thanks Nikon.  I thought I wanted air movement in the coop?!  I really have no idea what I am doing here.      So should there be more vents letting air in on the north side or should there be more vents on the south side letting air out (usually).  Or more on both ends?  Really sorry for over analyzing things here.  By my error I lost my first flock because of the ventilation.  I can't do that again!!!  I want to be sure they are going to be OK.

You want to take advantage of natural convection AKA "heat rises". There was a great photo floating around BYC that demonstrated how natural/passive ventilation works best with vents at the soffit (or your end vents are similar enough) and either a ridge vent or cupola type vent at the top. Here is my best approximation of the image:

The idea is that outside fresh air comes in the soffit vents, mixes with the inside air and then rises out through the high roof vent. It keeps the air fresh without causing drafts. There was a second drawing that demonstrated how this worked when there was wind blowing against the side of the coop but I don't recall how it looked

 

[Cyrus83]

Can you describe this is more detail, Cyrus? Where exactly to put them and what kind of vent do you mean? Please excuse my dumb questions. I will be the one trying to describe to the guys what to do so I want to be sure of what I am talking about.

Yes, the windows are too drafty in the winter time The one on the west is basically unusable. The other one doesn't get too much wind/weather so I could possibly use that on nicer days.



I really enjoy seeing what others do too. It most certainly gives me ideas that I would never have thought of. For example, poop boards. Never would have thought of that. I LOVE the idea. Now I am trying to figure out how to add them to what I have. Keep the coop pictures coming!!

Those are 4" louver vents tucked under the eaves on both sides of the building, and then I have 3 gable vents on there as well. Very easy to install, just a four inch hole saw and drill the holes between the trusses. I dont have windows but I made a removable fence to go between the big doors on nice days. If its not pouring rain I just open those doors and put the fence up in the morning and then lock em up at night. I used to let them roam right out the big doors until they decided my hostas were a salad buffet. now they are only allowed to roam the backyard. The big doors make cleaning easy because I can back my lawn tractor with a little trailer right into the coop and pitch fork everything right in.

 

[scandiafowl]

You could ad some louver style vents high up along the sides. you'll want ventilation in there in the winter, but cracking those windows right next to that roost could be too drafty right next to the birds. 

What do those kind of vents look like?

 

[lalaland]

Itis a beautiful coop. I would be worried that the vents wouldn't provide enough ventilation, and would be really tempted to add more. The whirly type mentioned by bogchicks would work. You could also cut out spaces along the top of the walls, say 5-6 inches deep, and as long as you can without running into studs. Put up hardware cloth. If you feel you have to be able to block them out, you can hinge wood so you could shut them if needed for rain. Looks like you have a bit of an overhang, this will help with rain/snow.


I have window openings where I've removed the glass, put hardware cloth over the opening, and leave it open year round. These are on the opposie side of the prevailing winds. On the north and west side, I have an overhang from jalousie windows but keep them open year round as well.

For the summer heat, I would make a screen door but not out of screen, out of wire fencing to optimize air flow in the summer heat. hardware cloth is expensive...but that would be best. But, you are up on the iron range, it might not be worth it for the few nights up there where it would be hot. I'm near Hinckley, and this week has been a little tough on the flock at night.

 

[scandiafowl]

I have comfrey, don't know what kind!  My chickens don't eat it, but I take the leaves, which are huge if you aren't familiar with comfrey - think tobacco leaf size - and dry them.  I crumble them up and store the dried comfrey in jars, and in the middle of winter I add it to their feed.  Good protein, and something green even if dried......

It is a big plant, reseeds itself so it makes a little colony, bees love it.  Good for a corner where you don't care what grows.  I've seen comfrey 5-6 feet tall, the variety I have gets about 4-5 feet tall.    Doesn't get out of control like raspberries or shrub roses, though!

Glad you brought it up, it reminds me that it is time to start harvesting it and drying it.

What makes it good for chickens?

 

[Rhetts]

So, I still don't have a way for the air to get out, is that correct? I need to let it out the top because it is peaked? Then should I add more vents on the west/east to let air in or do more on north/south? The majority of the wind comes from the west so is that the best place for a vent or the worst?? Do I have vents open all the time or ones to open and close? When would I know when to close them?

Thanks @Bogtown Chick Yes, the floor has joists but not off the ground. We scraped the top layer of ground off and put sand down. Then built the coop on that. We have green treated frame base though if that matters. The interior of the floor has polyurethane. I was voted out. I wanted to use a sheet of laminate or vinyl but the guys thought it would be too slippery. You have to appreciate my situation here. I have DH who does absolutely no building. He has 8 brothers that do. So when we need something built they can do it. BUT then I have 9 men telling me what it should be or they say its up to you its your _________ . My response to that is I don't build so I have NO IDEA what its supposed to be. Can't complain though!! Love them to pieces! This is the first chicken coop they/we have built. So mine is the one with all the mistakes and by the time they have made a few all the kinks will be worked out.

Thanks everyone for your help with this venting problem of mine!!!!

 

[scandiafowl]

Itis a beautiful coop.  I would be worried that the vents wouldn't provide enough ventilation, and would be really tempted to add more.  The whirly type mentioned by bogchicks would work.  You could also cut out spaces along the top of the walls, say 5-6 inches deep, and as long as you can without running into studs.  Put up hardware cloth.  If you feel you have to be able to block them out, you can hinge wood so you could shut them if needed for rain.  Looks like you have a bit of an overhang, this will help with rain/snow.


I have window openings where I've removed the glass, put hardware cloth over the opening, and leave it open year round. These are on the opposie side of the prevailing winds.  On the north and west side, I have an overhang from jalousie windows but keep them open year round as well.

For the summer heat, I would make a screen door but not out of screen, out of wire fencing to optimize air flow in the summer heat.   hardware cloth is expensive...but that would be best. But, you are up on the iron range, it might not be worth it for the few nights up there where it would be hot.  I'm near Hinckley, and this week has been a little tough on the flock at night.  

I bought a screen door at Menards and will replace the cheap mesh with hardware cloth. They appreciate the fresh air during the muggy nights.

I have one more window to install,

The coop is protected on the north side by the large pole barn, I want another window in the front.
When we paneled the inside we also added a ceiling so no critters could descend from the rafters. The squirrels like to store food up there as well.