Steam coming off cold ducks?

[Percipen]

I was just watching my ducks snoozing in their house and it looks like there is steam (like a person breathing in cold weather) rising up from a cluster of them. Its 19 degrees in there and the temp usually rises to about 30 after a couple hours of being in for the night. There isn't food/water or anything wet in the house, and the vents above them are closed until the weather warms a little, so it isn't coming from outside. I'm baffled. Anyone have any thoughts on what could be steamy? Could it be the frozen water that's on them melting and evaporating??

 

[Miss Lydia]

They make moisture naturally and you need some ventilation in your coop. Don’t close off all vents open on the south side. There has to be a way for the moisture to escape.

 

[ChickensForEggs2500]

I don't have experience with ducks, but from what I've read, their breath is also filled with moisture. That might be it. This is super interesting though!

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s what I meant their breathing sorry I didn’t clarify that.

 

[Percipen]

They make moisture naturally and you need some ventilation in your coop. Don’t close off all vents open on the south side. There has to be a way for the moisture to escape.

Thank you that's good to know. They have vents on 3 sides of their house. I blocked off the east and west vents to block some drafts, but the north facing vents are still open. Do you think that's enough ventilation? With the winds we are having it was getting really drafty. There would be peices of straw blowing around in there at night

 

[Percipen]

I don't have experience with ducks, but from what I've read, their breath is also filled with moisture. That might be it. This is super interesting though!

It's funny you say this. So when I let them out this morning, 3 of my girls didnt run out with the flock, they hung out in the doorway and, sure enough, there was steam coming off of one of their breaths. I dont know how that little bit of steam could show up on the camera but I really don't know what else it could have been

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you that's good to know. They have vents on 3 sides of their house. I blocked off the east and west vents to block some drafts, but the north facing vents are still open. Do you think that's enough ventilation? With the winds we are having it was getting really drafty. There would be peices of straw blowing around in there at night

I usually leave the vent on the south and east since our winter winds come from the west and north. The longest vent in the one room in my coop is on the east it stay open the one on the south is a window I leave open from the top about 2-3'" Play around with them and decide which one is not bringing in the air draft..

 

[Percipen]

I usually leave the vent on the south and east since our winter winds come from the west and north. The longest vent in the one room in my coop is on the east it stay open the one on the south is a window I leave open from the top about 2-3'" Play around with them and decide which one is not bringing in the air draft..

Will do! Thank you