temperature concerns in coop

[MVchickens]

Over the past few days the weather has been warm during the day (50's) and cool in the night (30's). Throughout the day the temperature in the coop warms drastically then falls sharply at night. How do you guys regulate the temperature in your coop? I would like it to remain a constant just because that seems like it would be better and more comfortable for the birds. I don't have birds in there now but they will be ready to leave the brooder soon so any help would be appreciated.

 

[patandchickens]

Are you saying that your coop is warming up significantly more than outdoor temperature? If so, the solution (very very necessary, b/c the problem will get worse as the season goes toward summer and chickens don't cope well with high heat) is to greatly increase ventilation. If there is "too much" S-facing window area or if you have a transparent/translucent roof that can also be part of the problem.

If you merely don't like the 50-to-30 day-night swings, in many coops you can ameliorate it somewhat by lots of thermal mass coupled with lots of insulation (yet do not block off too much ventilation); however that is really not at all a problematic change in temperature for chickens so really nothing to worry about.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[MVchickens]

Yes, the coop is warming up significantly more than outdoor temperature. I have two large windows for ventilation but apparently that is not enough. the coop is solid 2x4 construction with a regular asphalt shingled roof. I don't know what else i could do for ventilation without creating a major draft. do any of you have pictures of ventilation?

 

[Arielle]

Hi, I'm in Massachusetts, inland away from the coast.

I think too warm is harder than too cold. And as I have watched my 8 week olds adapt to the outside weather, I have come to appreciate that they are very adaptable. (I have 25 heritage-breed.)

We moved them out to a coop about 3weeks ago. A big change from a 70 degree heat lamp in our house environment to 25 degree nights and 50 degree days. Definitely I put on their heat lamp, 2 actually, and made MANY trips in the black of night to check them. THey were cold the first few nights and then were not huddling so close together the following nights. I still give them a red heat lamp at night--makes me feel better. NOt sure they really need it.
The coop is under big spreading oaks and birches; we are careful to keep trees available; I've noticed over many years of having horses that its the heat that is the most difficult; espcially our hot spring days in April before leaf out that is most stressful to the horses; so IMO my birds might have the same problem too.

Some housing designs use gardens on the roofs; seems like that could suck up a huge amount of heat and add insulation for during the night to moderate the inside temp. All depends on the roof design and structual strength overall.

Do you get strong sea breezes? I grew up on MDI , in Maine, and we wore wool sweaters in the evenings even in the summers. Do the sea breezes help with ventilation; or the hens need more protection from the winds? Maybe having a place out of the wind is your primary concern; and ventilation naturally occurs.

FOod for thought: At the university of Maine, the newly acquired sheep barn was carefully renovated. THe result was a high level of respiratory problems; the solution was to open the barn up more; it made for a colder barn but healthy sheep. AND poultry respire more moisture than sheep, pound for pound!

GL

 

[ARose4Heaven]

Lots of ventilation is mandatory for healthy animals. Ventilation is above the animals. Draft is below or at the same level as the animal. Chickens handle cold VERY well. Not so heat.

 

[patandchickens]

Yeah, windows are often not enough ventilation to deal with heat, especially if they are smaller windows in a larger coop.

IMO the two most all-around-useful things to consider (one or both) are: a) remove or cut into your siding at the top of one or more usually-downwind-in-winter walls to create a vent that is 6-12+" tall and most of the width of the coop. Just cut the hole (not severing any wall studs

) and secure hardwarecloth over it. You can add a hinged or sliding flap if you wish to be able to shut it down partly [or even, in rare instances, totally], but in your current weather that should not be a concern so it is more "something to think about by next winter". And/or b) cut a great big ol' hole in the N or E side of your coop, whichever has better shelter from strong t'storm winds, again securing with hardwarecloth and not severing wall studs and making a panel that can be hinged or bolted on as weather requires. In the North, if you want to do plan b it helps if you have a BIG roof overhang, or can do it into a roofed part of a run, or if the coop is in a somewhat sheltered location as opposed to being highly exposed to storm winds.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat