Sand or Hay for bedding small wooden coop?

[Shadrach]

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

Correct.

 

[Chelsea-85]

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.

That sounds logical. I will widen the open space of the coop, I hope it will lessen the moisture. Thank you dear.

 

[Chelsea-85]

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

Thanks a lot that is a good explanation. I will do that in the ceiling and at floor level.

 

[GC-Raptor]

This is where I got the information on ventilation.

GC

 

[nminusyplusm]

This is where I got the information on ventilation.View attachment 1628846
GC

It says right there in your attachment that warm air which holds more moisture rises.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news.../08/05/why-dry-air-is-heavier-than-humid-air/

 

[nminusyplusm]

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

The straw is getting wet because there's too much humidity in the entire coop with not enough ventilation at the top for it to escape.

 

[aart]

A lower vent can help the moist air move up and out the upper vents...
...BUT make sure it does not cause a strong draft moving past the roosts.

Also keep in mind that it can't be less humid inside the coop than it is outside the coop,
why it's good to measure humidity inside and outside for comparison.

If you live in a humid climate, get tons of snow then a thaw,
condensation is almost impossible to avoid.

 

[GC-Raptor]

The straw is getting wet because there's too much humidity in the entire coop with not enough ventilation at the top for it to escape.

If moist air rises in cold weather, why does frost settle on the surface of your deck or on top of your car and not underneath.
Even in above freezing temps dew forms on the surface of your lawn. GC

 

[aart]

If moist air rises in cold weather, why does frost settle on the surface of your deck or on top of your car and not underneath.
Even in above freezing temps dew forms on the surface of your lawn. GC

I think there's fine line at the molecular level,
between vapor(that rises) and dew(that falls).

 

[GC-Raptor]

I think there's fine line at the molecular level,
between vapor(that rises) and dew(that falls).

That's the answer, dew is forming in the coop as the temperature falls overnight and wetting the bedding.
Your a Genius. GC
ETA; All the more reason for a vent at floor level.