Surviving Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

I have a question on the fan idea.

Do any of you use a fan?

Would a fan be a bit drafty? you are no longer relying on warm moist air rising and venting you are mechanically moving that air. Does that make a difference?


Even with my breeding huts/coops I am trying to keep the air entering and exiting on the same side of the coop to avoid a draft. Can this be done with a fan? Wouldn't you be moving too much air?



Just things I have been thinking about on this cold day.

I've used a fan when temps went above 90's through the night. But up here we get such a nice cool down in the evenings for the most part that I don't need to do one. But maybe 1 week out of the year. Coop is in the shade and partially insulated...that helps tremendously. Sometimes I step inside that coop in the summer and am amazed that it's cooler than outside. When I do a fan I'm just using an old plastic household one. The birds do not seem to overly mind the "breeze" of it.

 

[MNChickMom]

Jerry let it be known that these chicks are gorgeous. And if opportunity arises that they want to make a certain northern state their residence...I'm all for that.

Carribean Blue Eggs or no....LOL....

I think Bossy was used alot on our farm too. Too many years ago to remember stuff.


I'm glad you have Holm to help you with the Deep Litter questions. But I will tell you this...that I think the Deep Litter Method is actually a method more effective for Mid to Southern States. You can add electric plates to keep the poo and litter warm enough to keep breaking down. But it seems like alot of extra stuff to do almost. I'm not a fan of it and if it's not done right....Ammonia build up and unhealthy living conditions for birds can arise. Just my two cents only for Deep litter and Minnesota weather conditions. Also I'm just a plain fan of keeping nice clean pine shavings or straw and birds out of their own muck as much as possible. If it's not frozen solid I'm moving the poop out of my coop.
I can attest to that and so can my New Hampshire Rooster.

 

[holm25]

I wouldnt do the deep litter method either. To much moisture... I quit the deep litter and frost bite quit showing up. I have on window open in my coop to keep the moisture out year round. But moisture isnt an issue in the summer.

 

[duluthralphie]

I've used a fan when temps went above 90's through the night.  But up here we get such a nice cool down in the evenings for the most part that I don't need to do one.  But maybe 1 week out of the year.  Coop is in the shade and partially insulated...that helps tremendously.  Sometimes I step inside that coop in the summer and am amazed that it's cooler than outside.  When I do a fan I'm just using an old plastic household one.  The birds do not seem to overly mind the "breeze" of it.

I was thinking winter, summer never entered my mind.duh ....I use the during the summer,,,

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Oh...Duh...sorry. I read your previous. statement too fast maybe. I'll go back and reread. I just never do a fan in the winter I guess.

 

[MNChickMom]

By deep litter method I was meaning a layer of straw covered by 1-2 inches of shavings. Every couple of weeks cleaning the coop down to the bare cement. I used the term deep litter as I know it will need a little more cushion for heavy breeds to hop/fall from the roosts.

Here is the fan we intend to install. http://www.qcsupply.com/10404-12-durafan-select-speed-shutter-fans.html

More thoughts on fans? Please give more advice on fans.

 

[KlopKlop]

l
I'm glad you have Holm to help you with the Deep Litter questions.  But I will tell you this...that I think the Deep Litter Method is actually a method more effective for Mid to Southern States. You can add electric plates to keep the poo and litter warm enough to keep breaking down.  But it seems like alot of extra stuff to do almost.   I'm not a fan of it and if it's not done right....Ammonia build up and unhealthy living conditions for birds can arise.    Just my two cents only for Deep litter and Minnesota weather conditions.  Also I'm just a plain fan of keeping nice clean pine shavings or straw and birds out of their own muck as much as possible. If it's not frozen solid I'm moving the poop out of my coop.

I agree with this. Deep litter worked great for me until it got cold enough to freeze the litter. I maybe could have done a little better at stirring it myself in the early winter but it got to the point the top layer of poo made a frozen crust and I could no longer turn the bedding.

I went from April to December without having to muck out. I lasted December to February this time.

 

[holm25]

I am patiently waiting for spring! Well maybe not patiently but I am waiting! I want to get garden planted! I want to plant some Mangel beets for my flock! They LOVE them! I need to start a batch of fodder for them now... But I cant wait till spring so I can stop that till next fall!

 

[aussiegal318]

I agree there needs to be a Northern climate comb clause (NCCC) for all breeds. My (coffee) creamer had frosty nips on his comb most of the winter, then we warmed up, got wet then temps plummeted. HC, what happened!?! The whole comb froze! By summer he will have a pea comb. He seems to be the only one. The other single comb roo stayed outside in the run even in the coldest weather. It's a chicken thing I guess.

 

[Cebarmlds]

By deep litter method I was meaning a layer of straw covered by 1-2 inches of shavings. Every couple of weeks cleaning the coop down to the bare cement. I used the term deep litter as I know it will need a little more cushion for heavy breeds to hop/fall from the roosts.

Here is the fan we intend to install. http://www.qcsupply.com/10404-12-durafan-select-speed-shutter-fans.html

More thoughts on fans? Please give more advice on fans.

Exhaust fan would be good!