No Ventilation...Help!

[bobbi-j]

I don't have any ideas on how to add ventilation, unless you put something in your door. I just want to say that I love your coop!

Wouldn't the amount of square feet of vent per fowl maybe have something to do with the type of coop you have? It seems to me that the smaller the coop, the more ventilation one would need. I could be way off base here. I'm just trying to learn. My coops have vented soffits, and the windows tip in from the top so I can have them open most of the time without issues. (I have closed them this week.)

 

[nchls school]

I grew up in Wisconsin and lived there for most of my life. I've raised birds since I was 14. Now I'm 64.

A blocked off vent during severe cold will not kill your chickens. Keep the building as clean as you can. Pay special attention to odors. Any sign of ammonia odor get the vent open; even hold the door open awhile. When temperature get warmer get the vent open. Consider installing a screen door along with the door you already have. That way, on mild days, you can open the solid door and let fresh air in.

 

[Kale Chips]

Thanks for the advice everyone! So here's the update:

I punched about 30 holes in the cardboard with a screwdriver so that a tiny bit of air can come through the vent at the top of the window.

I tried the feather test but it was likely incorrect because I can't close the coop door completely from the inside. I will try again with a friend and some tissue paper tonight. Basically the feather went straight into the chimney, but then 10 seconds later it poofed back out into the coop (?).

I just realized the thermometer in the coop also does humidity...it is at 72%. Is that too high?

I am struggling to keep the coop clean of poop because it just freezes and gets stuck to things. Should I just do my best to pick up whats in the shavings and leave the frozen stuff? It is starting to stink in the coop (though I think it mainly stinks right after a bird poops obviously).

 

[aart]

I just realized the thermometer in the coop also does humidity...it is at 72%. Is that too high?

What's the humidity outside the coop?
Can't get it any lower inside than outside

 

[Kale Chips]

What's the humidity outside the coop?
Can't get it any lower inside than outside

My local weather says it is 42% outside.

 

[21hens-incharge]

My local weather says it is 42% outside.

That is a 30% difference.

I try to keep mine no more than 10% higher than outside.


Really hard to do if venting is in question and obviously you have to have water inside.

Going to watch your video again and see if anything comes to kind.....

 

[21hens-incharge]

Have you changed out any shavings that got wet from the snow that blew in?

If it is currently not windy I would open the coop door and the cardboard cover to get the coop to vent as much as possible.

 

[Kale Chips]

So it was -9* In the coop this morning so I made the raptors some warm oatmeal with red pepper for breakfast (along with the normal crumble). I also did my best to clean out the poop and added a bunch of pine shavings to help keep them insulated a bit. Are they still ok in this cold? I just struggle because my dad continually bugs me to put a heater in there...and I feel so bad for them! But I also know that they are animals built for the weather (but -9?!?!). Humidity is at 72% and outside it is 59% so while it hasn't changed in the coop, it has gotten higher outside (So I am *almost* within range).

Another question: I noticed one of my golden comets was all puffed up and sleeping yesterday (like...sick chicken style) but I wasn't sure if that is just because she was cold? She was doing it again to a lesser extent this morning, and thankfully when I offered her some food she did take some. Is she just cold?

 

[kwhites634]

Hello everyone!

As you can see in my profile, I am in central Wisconsin and the weather is pretty nuts! We got a bunch of snow, and today pretty much everything is closed or cancelled due to the cold. At this very moment it is -27*F but with the windchill it is around -48*F. The thermometer in the coop is currently -3 and my babies are cold. I don't have a heater in there, it is just a stone building and their body warmth. Yesterday the wind was blowing so hard and they were all hiding on the floor so we nailed a bit of cardboard to the vent so that the wind (and snow) would stay out. Now my concern is that they don't have any ventilation and they will get sick. I have also noticed the tips of their combs getting quite pale/white and so am trying to keep frostbite at bay.

In the video below I show exactly what my setup is, so please, if you have ideas or experience let me know what you think!

Tag @chickisoup; she's a little north of you, & can possibly give you some "local" suggestions, but your birds do need ventilation.

 

[aart]

Another question: I noticed one of my golden comets was all puffed up and sleeping yesterday (like...sick chicken style) but I wasn't sure if that is just because she was cold? She was doing it again to a lesser extent this morning, and thankfully when I offered her some food she did take some. Is she just cold?

They are gonna move less and eat less when it's really cold.
It's why I use treats to gauge mobility, if they won't move to eat treats they may need some special attention.