Never Mind

[RollTideChicken]

...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What are your low temperatures that he's getting frostbite? Generally you don't see it until below freezing or even below zero. Is there frost on your ceiling?

 

[TalkALittle]

What have your low temperatures been? If it's raining, it's not cold enough for them to get frostbite.

In general though, the humidity inside the coop can only get as low as that outside the coop.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We've gotten down to the mid 20s, weather has been all over the place to be honest, today is was 60. My vents are 2.5" holes, 18 in total, and are on the East, South, and West sides. They are approx 20" above the top roost. The top roost favors the South side, and they always face the South wall.
I'm just wondering if adding more vents will do anything...
I do not know if there was frost on the ceiling, I will definitely check next time it's below freezing.

What directions are your prevailing winds? Could be those west vents are letting too much breeze blow through. Checking for frost will let you know if it's a moisture problem. Here in winter due to the winds and temperatures all west and north facing vents are closed or else they create a draft.

Are you sure it's frostbite, or could it be from pecking? It has to get pretty cold before I see frostbite on combs here.

 

[junebuggena]

Pictures of the coop? Vent placement is an important factor.

 

[imnukensc]

Can someone explain the math on this to me? I see no way that 18, 2.5 inch circles can equal 7.5 sq ft of venting.

 

[jthornton]

Can someone explain the math on this to me? I see no way that 18, 2.5 inch circles can equal 7.5 sq ft of venting.

Must be that new math thing.

Old math is 3.1416 x 1.25 x 1.25 x 18 = 88.3575 square inches so about 2/3 of a square foot (144 square inches in a square foot).

JT

 

[TalkALittle]

Are those holes your only ventilation? They are not enough to rid the coop of moisture from the respiration of 7 birds. Is your roof pitched at all? I'd cut some large holes at the highest point along the roofline and eaves. Flat ceilings create a bank of moisture that just sits there. You may need some vents down low too, so that as the hot moist air rises it pulls in some cooler dryer air from below.