one year later - help with coop redesign for frostbite

[amory]

@aart
thanks for the reply! interesting on frostbite happening more with mild freezing than proper cold. makes sense though with everything melting, there’s more ambient moisture than the relative dry subzero we get. will take larger coop advise for if there’s a next one, but that’s out of the question for now..

the 100w panels are less than a regular lightbulb, so cost next to nothing. we only use them at night when it gets proper cold. not to heat the coop like a red bulb, but as a ‘radiant warm to the feel’ type. total electric cost over the winter was less than $20.

those photos are helpful, our’s looks more or less the same. glad to hear it should heal up.

 

[aart]

total electric cost over the winter was less than $20

Did you put a meter (like a Kil-A-Wat) on it over the winter?

 

[Folly's place]

On the other hand, my boys do fine! Even my single combed bantam has so far not had a frostbitten comb. He cuddles with the girls, eight feet up in the rafters.
Brad, bantam EE

Solo, standard white Chantie
old picture of cute Belgian d'Uccle trio.
Need newer pictures!!!
Mary

 

[EggMan207]

In Maine it gets brutally cold as well (-40). I don't heat my coop as I've read it can make it very difficult for them to adjust to the temps if there is a power outage and they don't have access to the heat. I use clear contractor plastic around the run and the coop (Leaving about 8' open at the top of the run and all vents remain open in the coop). The plastic shields the hens from the wind and allows sunlight in to warm them up a little. I also run power for a water heater and a two lights, no other heat though. One or two got minor frostbite and we had long stretches of extreme cold (there was a point where they could see any timeline for temps to go about the negatives). One other thing that also helps is a small amount of corn in their food to help warm them up.

 

[sweetater22]

Amory I believe you do have a humidity and ventilation problem especially when all the flock is in that space with their added body temps and moisture from their breathing creating a more humid condition. I would recommend stopping the heat and possibly try to replace one window with more vent space. Or added vents could be cut in the existing gable ends. You will be surprised how well chickens adapt to Winter conditions . Good luck

 

[amory]

@aart
yep a kill-a-watt! those things are great to have around.

@sweetater22
the radiant panels have been off for some time. as mentioned, they are only used to take the edge off the particularly cold deep winter nights up here in the north country, not for regular heating. somewhere i have photos of when we put humidity monitors at roost level, compared with outdoor levels -- both during evenings and when unoccupied during the day. they were more or less the same as exterior conditions..

 

[aart]

@aart
yep a kill-a-watt! those things are great to have around..

Indeed they are, especially for measuring thermostatically controlled heating elements.

@sweetater22
the radiant panels have been off for some time. as mentioned, they are only used to take the edge off the particularly cold deep winter nights up here in the north country, not for regular heating. somewhere i have photos of when we put humidity monitors at roost level, compared with outdoor levels -- both during evenings and when unoccupied during the day. they were more or less the same as exterior conditions..

That actually mean you have adequate ventilation.

 

[amory]

That actually mean you have adequate ventilation.

right, so most likely what you mentioned, not being tall enough to avoid drafts on the roost.

would creating some sort of eave overlay, which would stop a direct wind, but still allow the warm air to rise and escape help? or putting a small door on their opening? or 'it is what it is' and leave things be?

fortunately none of the birds have any damage to their wattles or feet, just the comb tips.

 

[aart]

would creating some sort of eave overlay, which would stop a direct wind, but still allow the warm air to rise and escape help?

Yes you could dampen the breeze, wouldn't necessarily prevent FB tho.
Something like this on the outside, would baffle direct winds, but still leave an opening between verticals for air exchange. Could do that to all 4 gaps.
How big are those gaps and are they open with no mesh to protect against predators??

 

[amory]

thanks that looks great! i'll give it a go.