Sand or Hay for bedding small wooden coop?

[Shadrach]

In winter it reaches (-10). The coop is small and only the upper part one side of the coop is open (about 10 cm). Do I have to unwrap one side of the coop?

Can you take some picture of your coop and post them here?

 

[chickens really]

Hello. I'd use pine shavings. Ducks poop is very watery and being they don't Roost they can wet bedding quickly.

 

[Chelsea-85]

Can you take some picture of your coop and post them here?

Of course I will post some photos, I don't have any now. Thank you very much.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I wrapped it up with plastic nylon sheet, except the upper part which is open.

Moist air is heavier than dry air and sinks to the floor. A vent at floor level will allow the moist air to escape. GC

 

[RumneyRoost]

Do they have a run? Or do they free range during the day?

I’m wondering if you can rig it to leave their pop door (small chicken door) open all the time without predators or rain/snow/wind getting in. This would hopefully allow enough airflow through the coop to eliminate some of the condensation.

I agree with you about liking bedding on the floor of the coop. Sometimes the girls will choose to nap on the floor in the shavings in the afternoon instead of roosting. And even if I only add a handful of new shavings they have great fun scratching through it thinking there might have been some goodies.
An even soft, non-slip landing when they jump off the roosts is also a good way to help prevent leg injuries and bumblefoot.

 

[nminusyplusm]

In winter it reaches (-10). The coop is small and only the upper part one side of the coop is open (about 10 cm). Do I have to unwrap one side of the coop?

You definitely need more ventilation above their roost. -10 °C is not that cold to a chicken. Your weather sounds like mine and my coop has roughly a square meter of ventilation above their heads year round. As long as they're not sleeping in a draft, the more fresh air the better.

 

[nminusyplusm]

Moist air is heavier than dry air and sinks to the floor. A vent at floor level will allow the moist air to escape. GC

Actually it's the opposite, humid air weighs less:
https://science.howstuffworks.com/n...spheric/is-humid-air-heavier-than-dry-air.htm

 

[GC-Raptor]

Actually it's the opposite, humid air weighs less:
https://science.howstuffworks.com/n...spheric/is-humid-air-heavier-than-dry-air.htm

Then why is the straw getting wet with a open top on the coop. The info I've read says most air is heavier and the wet bedding supports that. GC

 

[GC-Raptor]

In any case a vent at the ceiling and another at floor level is best, away from roosts. GC

 

[Chelsea-85]

Moist air is heavier than dry air and sinks to the floor. A vent at floor level will allow the moist air to escape. GC

Thank you dear but I heard the opposite. The open space of the coop should be on the upper part, I guess.