Ventilation Advice for Winter

[smseverson]

Frostbite is fairly easy to prevent. Thanks for tagging me, @Hamiam

• Keep all ventilation except windows open. Windows allow snow to blow in. Drape a blanket over the window to help keep in warmth, as well.
• Keep ventilation up high above the roosts. Ventilation is not the same as drafts. However, if wind does blow in, it will be above their heads.
• If you're having cold feet issues, make their roosts the flat side of 2x4s. They will cover their feet and keep them warm.
• Do not feed them anything that steams or lets off lots of moisture like warm water. If you must provide water in their coop, keep it lukewarm.
• It is advised to let them out in temps of up to -4°F. Even colder, if you want. If it's windy, block the wind or don't let them out. Keep food and water outside the coop if possible.

I live in Canada. We are and have experienced minus forty (40) degrees farehneit (-40°C), and only my rooster and 8 week old chicks have experienced frostbite. How do I reduce frostbite in my coop?
Ventilation. I NEVER shut ventilation. Occasionally we get windy, sideways-snow blizzards, so I'll drap plastic in front of (not over) my vents. If there's frost on the windows, I increase ventilation. During the day when they get let out (-4°F or -20°C and warmer) I open the top half of my dutch door to help get rid of moisture.
My coop is insulated. I have kept a flock in a non insulated coop. If you regularly get temperatures of -4°F or below, I highly suggest investing in double walled insulation for your (current or next) coop. I used this in mine along with fiberglass house insulation and a vapour barrier. I only insulated the walls and roof. So far, only in -30°C to -40°C have my eggs frozen. My coop always stays 2° to 6° warmer than the outside air. It is 6 by 8 feet. I highly suggest insulating.
If you need temporary insulation, you can try:

• Hay bales stacked around the coop, or straw
• Shower curtains or plastic hanging down from any overhangs.
• Bags of shavings stacked around the coop.
• Cover windows with blankets on the inside.

I have only ever provided my birds with a heat lamp when it gets -30°C or below, and even then it's because I have chicks.
Frostbite can be prevented by airing out the coop daily if possible, light coatings of vaseline, and reducing water in the coop. Change bedding or aerate bedding every few days to prevent ammonia. Keep vents open. Don't give them warm or hot water, but lukewarm water. Warm or hot foods steam and cause moisture to build up on their coop.
Here in my cold climate my birds are often cooped up. So my food and water stays inside the coop- but wait. Water allows moisture to build up. What do I do instead? I give them free choice snow. Only once (usually twice) a day do I give them lukewarm water, and usually I try to give it to them outside. It keeps them hydrated, but keeps the coop itself dry. I know snow might sound cruel to someone unfamiliar with the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, but all wild animals eat it, and I still give my birds water daily. However, when they're cooped up I don't want to keep water in the coop 24/7 in -47°C. That would cause serious frostbite.

Thank you - this is very helpful. I just went and opened up more of the top vents on both sides of the top roof as well as a portion of the lower roof inside the run. Will test that to see how that goes. I will also plan to leave the coop door itself open now because we are forecasted to be above zero over night (finally!). We have considered the insulation and may end up moving forward with that - not sure that we can pull it off this winter yet but we'll see. I have heard mixed reviews on the Vaseline for frostbite so am leary to go that route - I'm hopeful it doesn't get worse! Thanks for the feedback - your information has been very helpful.

 

[smseverson]

I’m afraid I’m not sure exactly what to tell you, but I am so glad to see your post today! I was on the verge of writing my own because, as you say, even if you’ve read and thought a lot about it (as I suspect we both have), it can be confusing to apply the general guidelines to your specific situation. Your coop is about the same size as mine. I’m going to go out now to take pictures and will be right back. Barring children interrupting, of course.

I do have one question that may help us both: if the temp in the coop is negative Fahrenheit at night, is it even possible to avoid comb frostbite entirely? You say your BR’s, Orps, and RIR’s are all cold hardy, and I have some of each, too. And nearly every one has comb frostbite after a few nights at 0 and negative 9 F. My brahmas and Easter eggers are fine (hens) though EE Roo has some comb frostbite, too. So I’m on here researching ventilation. But is it possible that there will be frostbite at those temps for those breeds no matter what? It is really hard to convince my husband to add ventilation.

Good question on the temp and the possibility that it might be inevitable. I have witnessed the south window on our coop completely frosted over which is why I'm convinced it's ventilation. All 6 birds huddle and roost around that window so it is likely why it's so frosted but I need the vapor to go somewhere besides on their combs! Post pics if you can - I love to see what others are doing and to get ideas. This sight has been so helpful to me from the first day!

 

[Welshies]

Thank you - this is very helpful. I just went and opened up more of the top vents on both sides of the top roof as well as a portion of the lower roof inside the run. Will test that to see how that goes. I will also plan to leave the coop door itself open now because we are forecasted to be above zero over night (finally!). We have considered the insulation and may end up moving forward with that - not sure that we can pull it off this winter yet but we'll see. I have heard mixed reviews on the Vaseline for frostbite so am leary to go that route - I'm hopeful it doesn't get worse! Thanks for the feedback - your information has been very helpful.

You're welcome

 

[KCAmelia]

Thank you for your perspective, Welshies. And smseverson, I think opening all the top vents you can is the best bet. And if you see frost inside, that’s a good indicator of more ventilation being needed. I don’t have any glass in mine to check. Would frost form inside on the uninsulated wood ceiling? I look but haven’t found any signs of moisture gathering and dripping or anything. My coop is not insulated at all. I live in Missouri. I feel like I do not have enough ventilation, especially after all the reading I’ve done on here! But my husband is harder to convince, even with the low temps. He thinks maybe they will get frostbite no matter what, so welshies post will help me convince him it won’t. But if anyone can, please Check out my post, (with lots of details!) since I don’t want to hijack this one completely. Here’s a link. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/another-ventilation-question.1215213/

 

[HayKayJay]

Thank you SO much. This was incredibly helpful.