The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

I have a question about drafts & ventilation... here's my coop. I have to laugh at how nice all those wood chips look on the side there.. I must have took this right after we put it down and before the chickens got to it!



The wind seems to blow toward that side window, so that window is covered with plastic. They roost right next to that window. The two front windows are not covered at all. But it seems like once the side window was covered there is no breeze inside, even if the wind blows at the front of the coop. My husband went into a big long explanation as to why the front windows don't need to be covered (I just remember that it ended with "It's physics!"). I've stood in there when it's windy out and it doesn't seem like there's a breeze. The only reason I'm questioning it is this is MY first winter where I'm making all the choices myself. My great uncle built these coops in the 60's.. now he used to cover all the windows with glass, but I didn't like that because there was zero ventilation in there. But he has passed away and I don't have him and his 50 years of chicken keeping knowledge to ask anymore. What do you guys think?

Can you pull the plastic down a couple inches from the top to allow some ventilation, but not so much that it is creating a draft where they sleep.

 

[Scott H]

Basically, the wind won't blow in there if there is no place for it to go (escape). It's physics....;-)

 

[CedarAcres]

Can you pull the plastic down a couple inches from the top to allow some ventilation, but not so much that it is creating a draft where they sleep.

Do you think I should partially cover all the windows, leaving gaps for ventilation? Right now only the one window on the side has any covering on it. Or do you think I should leave the front windows alone, and create more of a gap on the side window?

Basically, the wind won't blow in there if there is no place for it to go (escape). It's physics....;-)

That is exactly what he said! Now that I saw someone else say it, I remember it! Physics was not my favorite class in high school! haha

 

[lindz8504]

Do you think I should partially cover all the windows, leaving gaps for ventilation? Right now only the one window on the side has any covering on it. Or do you think I should leave the front windows alone, and create more of a gap on the side window? 



That is exactly what he said! Now that I saw someone else say it, I remember it! Physics was not my favorite class in high school! haha 

I think I would leave it like it is and go inside to see if you feel any drafts. You can get at roost level to see what the air flow is at that level on the chickens. Then if you feel a draft you can figure out where you need to tighten up at without taking away all the ventilation.

 

[Scott H]

If the side window is open at all then you will have drafts. ...I used a candle on a windy day to check for drafts. .. sat it on their roost and opened and closed various things till the flame sat still. Don't burn down the coop! ;-)

 

[aoxa]

Do you think I should partially cover all the windows, leaving gaps for ventilation? Right now only the one window on the side has any covering on it. Or do you think I should leave the front windows alone, and create more of a gap on the side window?



That is exactly what he said! Now that I saw someone else say it, I remember it! Physics was not my favorite class in high school! haha

I think you should just partially cover that window.

 

[Kassaundra]

Looks like everybody is offline, I need some advise.
I just came form putting my chickens and duck to bed and I catch the barn owl attacking my pastel call duck, as soon as I arrived the owl flew and my little guy try to run but was to weak, so I grab him and put him in a bucket with wood shaving I had handy until I close the rest of the coops.
All the time I took to close coops7 of them the owl was yelling at me and pretty close to me as well (this are barn owls we have two and they are not afraid of us at all my husband gets pretty mad with them because they sit in one side of the house one and the other side the other and the talk to each other (around 3 in the morning) and my husband gets outside and screams at them and they answered him and not even move. Any ways I got my baby inside the house , clean the punctures (2 of them ) if I keep cleaning they keep bleeding so I just wash the guy and put him in a nice laundry basket with wood shavings and hope he is alive tomorrow.
Now I see that Nustuck is good but I don't have it handy, will coconut oil work as well I have lots of that should I put it in the holes directly, should I stich the holes , they are perfectly round.
I was thinking if by tomorrow he makes it then he will be just fine and should just keep putting some antibiotic in the form or coconut oil.
What do you guys stink I am worry and nervous and confuse.
Your help will be pretty much appreciated.

Never suture puncture wounds.

 

[aoxa]

Never suture puncture wounds.

Good to know

Drainage is important.

 

[Kassaundra]

Good to know

Drainage is important.

And you want to encourage the deep wound to heal from inside. If you suture the skin it will heal over covering a deep pocket of potential infection.

Encouraging puncture wounds to bleed at the time of event is good too. The bleeding tends to "clean" out the wound better in those deep narrow wounds. That is why tetanus is more associated w/ puncture the lacerations. Active bleeding will help minimize chances of tetanus.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: I wonder of the sugar & iodine mix would work well for deep puncture wounds?