Please kindly offer feedback on my winterized coop

[Ccort]

The green tarp is staples gently over a large window to serve as a windbreak. The blue stuff in the human door window is furnace filter which is supposed to let airflow in but not drafts. The chicken door closes and locks at night.

When the temp is below 32 F, I close the glass window nearest the human door so that cold aid isn't directly touching the girls, as they roost on that side of the coop. The window on the BACK of the coop also has a wind break, made of plywood, which sits away from the actual window by about an inch on the coldest of nights but can stay erect and much further out other nights.

The roosts are 2*4s and I have about 6 or seven inches of straw and Aspen bedding. (some pine mixed in). I manually pick up poops from bedding and roosts two or three times a week to prevent buildup.

THE RUN-it is hideous but I put the blue and green tarp around one side to serve as a wind break. As you can see, there is airflow at the top ( about two feet)

I am considering adding clear tarp all the way cross the front to prevent drafts/snow from coming in. Should I? I can also wrap it around to the entry door, leave the door open for airflow and possibly add another tarp at the back.

I should mention it is expected to get to -3 degrees Fahrenheit this week. Also, I bought a Cozy Coop heater, as mentioned in another thread here and thinking I will plug it into the coop on nights when under 10 or 15 degrees F.

Thoughts?

 

[Ccort]

Also, what should the humidity percent be in the coop? What range am I shooting for?

 

[3KillerBs]

The best way to check for drafts is to go in with a light ribbon on a stick or some other such thing on a windy day and see what happens. A gentle waft is OK, wind is not.

Also, what should the humidity percent be in the coop? What range am I shooting for?

The same inside as outside.

 

[aart]

Have you removed the soffit covering(where the red circle is) since this pic was taken?
(Think you said you did in another thread earlier today.)
Doing that in the back too provides the best draft free ventilation.

 

[Ccort]

The best way to check for drafts is to go in with a light ribbon on a stick or some other such thing on a windy day and see what happens. A gentle waft is OK, wind is not.



The same inside as outside.

Ok. Definitely never any wind. My house is right behind it and fencing to the right so that alone blocks a lot. Plus, the run is in front of it.


Now, those front windows, is it ok for that cold, even really cold air (say 0 degrees F) to come in on them, if not blowing wind? In other words, should I keep those open?

As for the humidity, it is currently reading at being two percent higher than outside.

 

[Ccort]

Have you removed the soffit covering(where the red circle is) since this pic was taken?
(Think you said you did in another thread earlier today.)
Doing that in the back too provides the best draft free ventilation.

View attachment 3352952

I told you I did in another thread because I thought a soffit was something else. Oops.

No, I have not removed it. I had someone say it wouldnt be good for the stability of the coop.

 

[Alagirl]

cold temps are usually Ok if you don't have draft. The windows should be OK if there is no opening on the otherside that pulls the air out.
3KillerB's has the infographic that explains it a lot better than I can with words.

 

[3KillerBs]

Now, those front windows, is it ok for that cold, even really cold air (say 0 degrees F) to come in on them, if not blowing wind? In other words, should I keep those open?

Temperatures that low are getting outside my experience level. @aart or @DobieLover can answer that better than I can.

 

[aart]

Now, those front windows, is it ok for that cold, even really cold air (say 0 degrees F) to come in on them, if not blowing wind? In other words, should I keep those open?

Best if that air is a far above them as possible.
It's really hard to gauge what temp is OK without knowing how much force it has.

No, I have not removed it. I had someone say it wouldnt be good for the stability of the coop.

No, it will not. AFAIK the rafters are pretty sturdy in that coop.

@Sueby has some good pics showing how they did it:
Back
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/coop-modification-recommendations.1517556/post-25543595

Front
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/coop-modification-recommendations.1517556/post-25543828

 

[Ccort]

Thank you.

Our forecast now has the temperature dropping 50 degrees in ONE DAY, followed by a high the next day of 8 degrees F and dipping toward -5 F.

I am getting more and more concerned about this. Should I bring them in during this? I'm worried about them even being outside during the day during such cold temps and that HUGE fluctuation.