Official Squatch Watchers

[FlyingNunFarm]

Can you crack a window to help get some drying action going on, or will that create frost?

What is the humidity outside the coop?

We have had a few very cold nights with external humidity in the 80%+. Mine did ok.

If outside humidity is 10% or more lower than inside the coop I do a poop scoop, add shavings and even if its really cold I open a window or two.

That yours do well.

Is it b/c the bedding is damp or is snow blowing in, then melting? Don't you have the soffits vented? If so I'd think that'd be enough air flow, unless they aren't up high enough. Maybe a small fan up high to circulate the air? But a fan would make wind & make it colder.. Someone else probably has better ideas.


You win... or lose, depending on how you look at it. Hope you're keeping warm.

Even without a hygrometer I can feel the humidity when it’s up in my coop due to droppings, because it’s small.

I’m wondering if a layer sweet pdz would help?

Time was short so I did all I could before moving the birds.

Windows are framed but not in.

An old picture but up between the rafters on this whole side is open. HW clothed but open. Window is framed for right around the last row of words towards the back.
Because the old particle board in those same sections was in good shape, and I again was short on time, the soffits on the other side are not open.

This is the problem with the pop door. Yeah, that's a good 4" of snow blown up to the door. The wind comes from that side. I had to put the run over that way because of property lines and where the coop is located.

I may try a good poop clean out. I've been trying to do those when I can shove it out the door and they can spread it around. I could also knock some of the soffit boards out and HW cloth them from the inside.
I wasn't sure with the wind if that would be too much. Maybe I'll start with 2 or 3 spaced and see how it goes. I'm surprised that the coop seems cold. Not much warmer then outside.
All trial and error at this point.

eta: I put down 40 lbs of PDZ before they moved in. The back of the coop was dirt so I put a bunch under the pallet floor cover and then more on top. I could get more though.

 

[apryl29]

In the past, I've made my own Ren faire outfits (I bought corsets for them though). My thought for my wedding dress was to make the skirt and undershirt like I did for my Ren fair outfits. My mom talked me into going to try dresses on just to get ideas and this one was so perfect and cheap that I had to get it. The corset back was an addition I wanted if I was going to buy a dress.

I think the corsets really help bring a dress together. Even if you're already thin it helps draw everything in and smooth it out nicely. Plus no slouching!

@apryl29 .

My coop has an enormous amount of ventilation. Yes open soffits and all those windows.

I actually had to put baffles in the west soffit due to blowing snow.

With 20+ birds the droppings can really add up.

This morning the humidity inside is at 80% with outside at just 61%. I have not scooped the poops yet so once I get that done it should drop to very close to outside humidity.

It's amazing how much the nighty poops raise that humidity.

I'm having the snow blowing inside issue... noticed it last night, but don't seem to have much humidity issue. I use a couple of these vents on the front and sides, but I also have PDZ on both my poop boards, so I'm sure that helps keep the moisture down.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Air-Vent-8-in-L-Mill-Aluminum-Soffit-Vent/1000515459
I'm going to have to figure out something to cover the one on the north side to keep the snow out. Last year I just used some plastic & duct tape. I was hoping to find something that would still allow air through, but the only thing I've found is the magnetic sheet & I'm not sure how well it'd stay on.

Even without a hygrometer I can feel the humidity when it’s up in my coop due to droppings, because it’s small.

I’m wondering if a layer sweet pdz would help?

It's worth a shot. I've not noticed an issue w/ humidity and I have a 8'x2' board along the back w/ about 1" of pdz and a 4'x2' board on the other side. I'm sure there's some on the floor b/c they kick it all over the place, but I don't intentionally throw it on the floor.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I think the corsets really help bring a dress together. Even if you're already thin it helps draw everything in and smooth it out nicely. Plus no slouching!

I wasn't that thin. I was probably close to 210-220 for my wedding. Believe it or not, I weigh about 240-245 right now.

 

[apryl29]

Time was short so I did all I could before moving the birds.

Windows are framed but not in. View attachment 1638254
An old picture but up between the rafters on this whole side is open. HW clothed but open. Window is framed for right around the last row of words towards the back.
Because the old particle board in those same sections was in good shape, and I again was short on time, the soffits on the other side are not open.
View attachment 1638255
This is the problem with the pop door. Yeah, that's a good 4" of snow blown up to the door. The wind comes from that side. I had to put the run over that way because of property lines and where the coop is located.

I may try a good poop clean out. I've been trying to do those when I can shove it out the door and they can spread it around. I could also knock some of the soffit boards out and HW cloth them from the inside.
I wasn't sure with the wind if that would be too much. Maybe I'll start with 2 or 3 spaced and see how it goes. I'm surprised that the coop seems cold. Not much warmer then outside.
All trial and error at this point.

eta: I put down 40 lbs of PDZ before they moved in. The back of the coop was dirt so I put a bunch under the pallet floor cover and then more on top. I could get more though.

You could always recover the side if snow starts blowing in.
I have a thermometer in my coop and it's usually the same temp inside as outside, unless it's a really sunny day in the winter. My coop is a dark gray color so it absorbs the heat nicely, but since it's not insulated or anything it doesn't last long after the sun goes down.

 

[apryl29]

I wasn't that thin. I was probably close to 210-220 for my wedding. Believe it or not, I weigh about 240-245 right now.

You're kidding me. I know you're tall & we all wear our weight differently, but I wouldn't have never guessed anything close to that. Even in the baby bump post you look so thin w/ this cute little bump. Seriously, you look freakin' amazing. I'm 5'2" & about 185 & I look like a busted can of biscuits. I'm not overweight.. I'm just too short.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Time was short so I did all I could before moving the birds.

Windows are framed but not in. View attachment 1638254
An old picture but up between the rafters on this whole side is open. HW clothed but open. Window is framed for right around the last row of words towards the back.
Because the old particle board in those same sections was in good shape, and I again was short on time, the soffits on the other side are not open.
View attachment 1638255
This is the problem with the pop door. Yeah, that's a good 4" of snow blown up to the door. The wind comes from that side. I had to put the run over that way because of property lines and where the coop is located.

I may try a good poop clean out. I've been trying to do those when I can shove it out the door and they can spread it around. I could also knock some of the soffit boards out and HW cloth them from the inside.
I wasn't sure with the wind if that would be too much. Maybe I'll start with 2 or 3 spaced and see how it goes. I'm surprised that the coop seems cold. Not much warmer then outside.
All trial and error at this point.

eta: I put down 40 lbs of PDZ before they moved in. The back of the coop was dirt so I put a bunch under the pallet floor cover and then more on top. I could get more though.

The open soffit should be enough....
Stupid snow! Spring might be a good time to make a little covered porch on that side.
I have never been able to get the humidity in my coop exactly or even lower than outside.

I wasn't that thin. I was probably close to 210-220 for my wedding. Believe it or not, I weigh about 240-245 right now.

Well dear, you certainly look thin and pretty both in the wedding pics and with the baby bump.

 

[Redhead Rae]

The open soffit should be enough....
Stupid snow! Spring might be a good time to make a little covered porch on that side.
I have never been able to get the humidity in my coop exactly or even lower than outside.



Well dear, you certainly look thin and pretty both in the wedding pics and with the baby bump.

Actually, The same person can carry weight differently. Before I went gluten free, I was around 235 and looked a LOT heavier.

 

[21hens-incharge]

@apryl29 .
I got some corrugated plastic at Home Depot and mounted it at an angle inside to stop the snow blowing in but keep the venting.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Plaskol...ugated+plastic+sheet&semanticToken=212t00000+>++st%3A%7B18+in.+x+24+in.+plaskolite+corrugated+plastic+sheet%7D%3Ast+cnn%3A%7B0%3A0%7D+cnb%3A%7B0%3A0%7D+oos%3A%7B0%3A1%7D+br%3A%7Bplaskolite%7D%3Abr+pt%3A%7Bpolyethylene+sheet%7D%3Apt+rt%3A%7B18+in.+x+24+in.+corrugated%7D%3Art+dln%3A%7B575202%7D+qu%3A%7Bpolyethylene+sheet%7D%3Aqu
This is what I used. It was easy to cut with a utility knife. I mounted it using the good ole screws and washers.

It does come in several size sheets.

 

[Chickassan]

Porridge! You're such a good chicken mom! I'll have to do that in the morning, supposed to be 27 so they'll enjoy it...or be scared taterless, they haven't seen porridge in a while.

35 here which is cold!
They got hot mash with a blob of yogurt this morning. Ooooh! They were so excited.

@apryl29 Yep, Marlene lays she's my jumbo layer 80g and up.
That may explain her attitude right there, and she's my oldest the only one left of my first four.

 

[21hens-incharge]

We should be near 60° today. Yup it's coop cleaning day. I scoop the area under the roosts once a week if we aren't having super cold days. Those super cold times I spot clean every day to keep humidity down.


I took Tilly for her 12 week shots this morning. She is 25.2 pounds. Sure feels heavier.

I don't particularly like the vet she saw today. It was the same one who had me running lots of tests on Sable for "kidney failure".
This little puppy is NOT fully vaccinated yet and she is telling me I need to be taking her to dog parks.
WHAT THE WHAT????
UM NO!

Then she's all over me to spay her......She is BARELY 12 tatering weeks old!!!!!
Then it's how she MUST be on heartgard NOW.

I am going to explore different vets.

OH AND she puked the bordetella stuff all over the back seat of my car.

Yup she 100% missed the blanket.