Trouble with ceiling humidity

[IdyllwildAcres]

You say there is a lot of ventilation but I do not see it? You need 12sf of ventilation, 1 sf per bird. Or less birds,

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Even if they are let out all day, you still have too many birds for that size of "hen house". Chances are you are still going to have a too much moisture issue.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Did some digging. In a he OP's intro post it says they are in Ohio.

To me that means cold as well as possible high humidity.

A suggestion @3rdtimesacharm is to get two thermometers with a humidity gauges. Put one inside the coop and one outside the coop. The goal is to have the humidity within 5% of each other.

If your humidity in the coop is more than 5% higher you need to do a cleaning AND open/add more ventilation.


Of note is that a camper topper (in this case a metal coop roof) will turn it into an oven in summer. Given the size of the structure it can also do that in winter.
In my opinion that needs addressed ASAP.

 

[David61]

I like the coop. home made coops from what ever is hand is folk art and to cool. A little more venting on the top ends sides 0f the camper top so it doesn't trap and condensate. Maybe some 4" pvc elbows with HW cloth
I only have one real daytime predator , hawk. my run has a hawk net. A 100' roll of 2x4 animal wire, a few tee posts and 25x50 net. 10x30 run should be about $200 and a few hours set up

 

[coach723]

All good advice given. When you have moisture condensing on surfaces in the coop then the issue is absolutely ventilation. The birds respirations are causing the increase in humidity, so short of stopping them breathing, the solution is better/more ventilation. Historically, even places much farther north than you, used open sided coops. The birds do fine as long as they can get out of prevailing winds and stay dry. If the moisture continues then you are at risk of starting to see frostbite injuries as well, as winter sets in. This really is not something that can afford to wait or your problems are going to just get worse.
When you have time, this is a very good book on open air poultry houses, it's old, but the info is still applicable.
https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Air-Po...=open+air+coops&qid=1610128250&s=books&sr=1-1

 

[Cazook]

there's no overwhelming ammonia smells.

there shouldn't be *any* ammonia smell. by the time ammonia is detected by the human nose it is already multiple times the concentration that is toxic to chickens.


chickens don't need insulation from sand or straw or whatever. they just need dry air and a perch wide enough to cover their feet. high humidity will cause frostbite faster than extreme temperature.

 

[3rdtimesacharm]

Thanks for your opinion, however that ceiling is fiberglass, not "metal". The frame of it is aluminum, but the entire ceiling is fiberglass.

Also, I did attach some pics somewhere, but the ENTIRE sides of the coop are hardwire, covered by I'm not sure what the name is, like a corrugated plastic sheeting just to prevent drafts, rain/snow coming in, as well as for my benefit bc I know how determined raccoons can be-I don't trust them or any wildlife.

Those hardwire walls are on the north/south sides. And on the east/west sides about 12" under the glass is about a 6" high, 18" long section of hardwire for cross ventilation. I think they're just positioned too low- they're about 2.5' high, whereas the coop is about 5' high.

My husband is removing the roof/cap, insulating it and covering with more corrugated plastic, and then putting an attic vent on top, outside obviously to release the vapors that are being caused.

I left the shavings and the straw under the nest boxes and piled them up around the walls and corners and just put the sand under the roosts and the center of the coop. Honestly, it reduced the condensation by half!! It's helping much better. But I think adding insulation to the top with a vent at the center of the roof should eleviate much of the heat/cold/moisture. There's literally ZERO issues regarding ammonia build up. The coop smells great, no drafts, comfortable and cozy inside. It's just when they're sleeping, they're roosting pretty close to the ceiling and their warm breath is merging with colder temps and causing moisture to form on that ceiling. Hopefully the insulation will help raise the temp (inside thermometer says it's about 40°) and allow anything warmer to rise out of the coop so nothing can continue to condensate.

Thanks. I wish now that I hadn't put 150 lbs of sand in, but they LOVE to dust bathe, so they're digging it, and I have to say, it truly is much easier to clean poop off of sand.

 

[3rdtimesacharm]

there shouldn't be *any* ammonia smell. by the time ammonia is detected by the human nose it is already multiple times the concentration that is toxic to chickens.


chickens don't need insulation from sand or straw or whatever. they just need dry air and a perch wide enough to cover their feet. high humidity will cause frostbite faster than extreme temperature.

Let me rephrase, there's ZERO smell!! I could hang out in there all day!

 

[3rdtimesacharm]

All good advice given. When you have moisture condensing on surfaces in the coop then the issue is absolutely ventilation. The birds respirations are causing the increase in humidity, so short of stopping them breathing, the solution is better/more ventilation. Historically, even places much farther north than you, used open sided coops. The birds do fine as long as they can get out of prevailing winds and stay dry. If the moisture continues then you are at risk of starting to see frostbite injuries as well, as winter sets in. This really is not something that can afford to wait or your problems are going to just get worse.
When you have time, this is a very good book on open air poultry houses, it's old, but the info is still applicable.
https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Air-Po...=open+air+coops&qid=1610128250&s=books&sr=1-1

Thank you very much!! I completely get it, and as you'll see below, we're on it. I know that's the issue. The entire sides are basically just hardwire with plastic over top bc we've lost two past flocks (15 years ago and 9 years ago) to raccoons. I just can't again. The plastic sheeting just protects from prevailing winds and from rain/snow.

But yeah, it's basically their breath while they're sleeping condensating on the ceiling. I'm pretty sure we've got it figured out, and we've got a warm front hitting these best few days-it's going up to 60 so we can work on it with little problems!!! Should be good by the end of the week!! THANKS!!

 

[3rdtimesacharm]

You say there is a lot of ventilation but I do not see it? You need 12sf of ventilation, 1 sf per bird. Or less birds,

Even if they are let out all day, you still have too many birds for that size of "hen house". Chances are you are still going to have a too much moisture issue.

You think a hen house that's 40+ sq ft is too small?

Once the run is complete, they'll have the house plus another 40 sq ft underneath and the detachable 100 sq ft run. That's too small?

None of them fight or peck-maybe bc the rooster stops the squabbles? But they seem quite happy and 9 of 11 are laying as

I like the coop. home made coops from what ever is hand is folk art and to cool. A little more venting on the top ends sides 0f the camper top so it doesn't trap and condensate. Maybe some 4" pvc elbows with HW cloth
I only have one real daytime predator , hawk. my run has a hawk net. A 100' roll of 2x4 animal wire, a few tee posts and 25x50 net. 10x30 run should be about $200 and a few hours set up

Thanks! The sides are all hardwire, just covered by the plastic corrugated sheet. But I could stick my hand back behind it. I definitely have thought about and am getting a humidity thermometer. The thermometer inside reads 40° usually. I've read you want the humidity inside around 60%

But we also have ventilation on the east/west. It worries me because I see rain get in. Especially from the west.

And yes, we're in NE OH. We've had two snow storms, cold temps like the old days, but weather systems are wacky these last 10 or so years. In fact, the next 3 days are going to be upper 50s and even 60!! Glad to have it cuz it'll be easier to work on the coop.

You'll see below that were taking the top off, insulating the fiberglass top and then adding an attic/roof ventilation. My husband is a contractor so he gets all kinds of gadgets and is a very smart guy who can problem solve very well. It's just finding the time!!

I know my hens are happy-there's no fighting (I have a roo so maybe he breaks up squabbles) and my white leghorn started laying at 18 weeks; she lays EVERY day, and now at 31 weeks, all but two are laying!! And in winter, without supplemental light!! I get 6-9 eggs a day.