Please help end an argument!

[WhiteRockCrazyBird]

Thanks for all the advice so far. I was worried adding the additional hens would max out the coop, plus the division between the two flocks, but we did it anyway and are suffering with it now. I clean all the poop out of the coop every day. We have pine pellets on the floor. The corrugated fiberglass roof panel--the gaps in the ribs are open into the coop on both ends. But the high end points to the west where all the cold air blows in and the warm moist air can't get out. I wish the high end pointed south or east. And there's a 3"X 6" vent at the top on the south side where the access door is. Definitely not enough. Windows are closed and sealed shut to prevent drafts. We have a plastic curtain with slits in it over the pop door. Last week temps were 3 to 20 degrees for the highs. This week we're expecting a couple of days with a high of -2 and lows of -13, not including wind chills, which I told my husband shouldn't matter if the birds aren't in the wind.

I love my little coop, but chicken math demands more birds, so next spring we will be going big, probably making a coop out of the storage rooms in the barn.

 

[junebuggena]

The tiny gaps from the roof are not enough. You really need to open that coop up more up top.

 

[WhiteRockCrazyBird]

Yeah, we're sitting here discussing, and there's not a lot of ventilation options due to how the coop is built (it was a wooden swing set in it's former life). We could move the roosts lower so drafts wouldn't be an issue if we added more ventilation a foot or two lower than the roof. Still doesn't solve the crowded coop, just have to build bigger. Your posts have convinced my husband that we can leave the pop door open during the day (yay). He thinks we need to close the horses in the barn-they have never been closed up! We did come up with a hay feeder in the barn so they can eat inside instead of out at the round bale. But I will not shut them in! We are totally stressed about this cold snap, I don't think I've ever experienced such temps!

 

[junebuggena]

That coop has more than enough height for you to cut in some decent sized vents. Don't worry so much about vents facing the direction the wind blows, that will actually help move air around, which is a good thing. As long as the roosts are a foot below the vents, your chickens will not be in the direct path of the air (draft).

 

[Blooie]

Ventilation and heating have been covered very well. Nothing to add there. But I see a lot of snow in your run, (or the area they come directly out to if it's not a run).....they do better if they are kept as dry as possible. With snow, they are dragging it on their feet and as it melts it adds significantly to the humidity level in your coop. I know how worried you both are - been there, DESIGNED the t-shirt! While getting out there and working on the ventilation issues could be near to impossible this season, I wonder if you could find a way to block that snow from coming in?

 

[lazy gardener]

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and buy some louvered vents. They are cheap. You can then simply cut some holes in the walls and screw the vents in place. But put 1/2" hardware cloth under them to make them predator proof. The louvers will allow fresh air in, but keep snow and rain from coming in.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

To answer your original question, Husband is wrong. Chickens are not stupid. If I were in your shoes I would open the doors and leave heat running. It will be cold in there of course but they will be able to get next to the heater when they need to get a warm up. This is a temporary fix to winter woes. They need a bigger coop for sure By next winter a proper coop will end your need for a heater. Or much less chickens in this one with the ventilation moved as someone said. We have some really great coop builds on here you can study on til spring ! Im no expert on building or ventilation or anything for that matter. Just what I would do.

BOOOM! It is settled, Granny spoke.

Go tell hubby to get the heat out of the coop and if he gives you any lip refer him to the woodshed where Granny will be waiting to school him.

Gary

 

[Granny Hatchet]

BOOOM! It is settled, Granny spoke.

Go tell hubby to get the heat out of the coop and if he gives you any lip refer him to the woodshed where Granny will be waiting to school him.

Gary

bahahaaaa I got my rolling pin at the ready too.

 

[WhiteRockCrazyBird]

When I was reading these posts back to him, I left that part out! I never read my original post to him either, just kinda summarized that I was asking others for their thoughts!

We do have plastic sheeting wrapped around the pen, and I did shovel and sweep the snow from the pen after the first snow. And yes! those plastic louvered vents from Menards is what we put on the south wall. Great ideas here. We will definitely rebuild with maximum ventilation!! And it's -2, but I'm glad I can open the pop door when I go feed!