Need advice on humidity, please

[artsvarc]

Having issues now that's is winter in Iowa (first one) I have 12 birds in a 4x6 coop. Yes, probably a few to many. I have about as much ventilation as I can without opening windows.. but they are at roost level. I cut 2 holes at the top end of the coop today, I could make a bit bigger but I need to get a cover first for size. Those holes lead into the covered run. The end, above the door is the side that gets the wind, rain, snow so I'm trying to avoid a vent there. I wrapped my run in 6mil and now I have moisture on the inside of the plastic. That has caused the water to drop in the straw and I'm getting ammonia. I opened up some plastic and pulled back a corner of the tarp. Should I just remove the tarp on top if its not actively raining or snowing? I was really hoping to keep a dry run this winter. Any advice on the coop ventilation? This morning the coop temp was about 9° it was about 10 degrees warmer outside. The coop humidity was at 90% outside humidity about 80%. I do have two chickens with frostbite combs.

 

[aart]

The frostbite will heal, minus those black tips, leave it alone.

I would be inclined to remove the end plastic on the run, rather than part of the roof.

Open soffits would be good.....but....might drill a bunch of holes(1-2" dia) in them.

Meanwhile remove these louvers, replace with HC.

 

[3KillerBs]

This is the article you need to read in order to understand how to keep chickens healthy in cold weather.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

 

[Alaskan]

Those holes lead into the covered run.

Since you have a covered run, it would be super easy to open up a huge area on that side. So, removing the louvers like Aart suggested. Maybe when you remove the louvers you could make those holes way bigger... then yes, secure with hardware cloth.

I wrapped my run in 6mil and now I have moisture on the inside of the plastic.

At an ideal minimum of cover:
I would keep the roof covered, the walls next to the coop... and about halfway up the side walls... but open up all walls on the half furthest away from the coop.

If you have crazy wind... maybe just take off all wall covering on the end with the run door (since that is furthest from the coop) and then remove some of the covering on one wall... again start on the end furthest from the door... and see how much you can remove without getting snow blown in.... you could also remove the top half, but keep the bottom half in place so the birds can hide from any wind..

You might have to experiment, so you open more of the walls without letting snow blow in.

 

[artsvarc]

This is the article you need to read in order to understand how to keep chickens healthy in cold weather.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

Thank you. I'm tracking all of that. Since I'm in Iowa, temps can get nasty in Jan/ Feb. Would you suggest adding insulation then? Its pretty sealed up, caulking and weather seals on nest box. I'm going to change/ add what aart suggested above also.

 

[artsvarc]

Since you have a covered run, it would be super easy to open up a huge area on that side. So, removing the louvers like Aart suggested. Maybe when you remove the louvers you could make those holes way bigger... then yes, secure with hardware cloth.



At an ideal minimum of cover:
I would keep the roof covered, the walls next to the coop... and about halfway up the side walls... but open up all walls on the half furthest away from the coop.

If you have crazy wind... maybe just take off all wall covering on the end with the run door (since that is furthest from the coop) and then remove some of the covering on one wall... again start on the end furthest from the door... and see how much you can remove without getting snow blown in.... you could also remove the top half, but keep the bottom half in place so the birds can hide from any wind..

You might have to experiment, so you open more of the walls without letting snow blow in.

Thank you. I do think when I remove the louvers, I'll make them bigger. I'll start at one end with the plastic. ☺

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you. I'm tracking all of that. Since I'm in Iowa, temps can get nasty in Jan/ Feb. Would you suggest adding insulation then? I'm going to change/ add what aart suggested above also.

I'm in steamy North Carolina so I can't make cold-weather recommendations, only point to the most useful resources I know.

 

[aart]

Would you suggest adding insulation then?

Not sure if insulation would help, with adequate ventilation it's pretty much moot.

 

[Maverick1]

I suggest a solar fan. I have one in my coop just under the soffit. It removes moisture in the winter and the hot air in the top of the coop in summer. so the coop stays cooler. It only runs in the daytime when the sun hits the panel. It is a small fan. about a 5 inch hole and the fan screws to the coop. You can get it on eBay for about 30-40 dollars. It works great for me in summer. I don’t really use it in the winter because I don’t have the moisture problem in the winter. It should work great for you because the air in you coop needs to circulate more and be removed because the amount of hens you have in the smaller space.

 

[jreardon1918]

I agree with the above suggestions. Eliminate the far end run plastic. Where the coop attaches to the run that wall can get really opened. Holes in the soffits. If the improved ventilation does not work you have a couple more difficult choices. Expand the coop or fewer chickens.