Ventilation Help Please

[Enchanted1s]

Hi All. Our first year with chickens - ever. I think I have a ventilation issue. We have one adult rooster, one adult hen and two pullets sharing a roosting box in our walk-in coop I threw together during fall storms, knee deep in mud - but that is an earlier post. We first purchased a kit coop for the two adults that flew over the fence and stayed. Within 48 hours of getting them in it, I knew it was much too small and used it to build our approx. 8 foot square, walk-in coop. All was fine until it got cold. Now, it looks like my adults have frost bite on their combs. After some reading here, I assume it is a ventilation issue?

The original coop had a planter on top of the nesting box, so there was no air movement there. I really didn't know what I was doing, and roughly used the design of the box kit in building our coop. I put the board from the bottom of the planter on the top of the box. If I remove that board - and leave the top of the box open to the roof, would that be better for them??

I will get better pictures when the sun comes up, but I'm up late, trying to keep the fire going in here, and worrying about the chickens out there in this cold. It has been below freezing (in the 20's) for the long hours of darkness for about a week here, and more of the same in the immediate forecast. We are in NM, so it doesn't get bitter cold here, but this is the hen's (all 3) first winter, possibly the rooster too? and certainly our first winter as outdoor bird keepers. We are also learning about chicken math and have three cute pullets that just hit 2 weeks, inside the house! I'm hoping to do a much better job on building the next coop - but I will save those questions for another post. For now, I am hoping I can do something to make things better for them quickly before I do more damage to them.

If I am understanding what I have read, providing air flow at the top will be better than with no real ventilation at night?? Should I remove the board completely? or raise it 4 inches or so? Any guidance much appreciated.

Here is the kit coop that I started with. The board I am thinking about removing or raising is under all of the dirt - the ceiling of the nest box. The next photo shows how it is now.

Here is the coop now, except...

I put cardboard, styrofoam and heavy blankets for winter insulation blocking the wind from three sides. The front remains open. Everyone free ranges all day and comes to the coop at night. I have been closing the sliding door to the nest box too.?.?.? The board I think I should remove or raise is just above the open door on the box. From the inside, the box would then be open on the top and two sides (I hope that makes since).

Thanks in advance everyone. I wasn't sure if I should post this here, or in a different forum?? BYC is the best!

 

[Tiana's chickens]

Wow you have done a really great job on the coop!
I don't have winters like yours so I really don't have much advice to give sorry.
I've heard that giving the chooks oats and cracked corn before bed are good because it produces a lot of warmth as they digest it.
Just and idea, I'm not sure how but you could set up some sort of heat lamp in the coop for the cold nights?
Some holes could be drilled in the wooden panelling for extra ventilation?
For my chooks, if I was having really cold winters I'd probably just have to bring them inside in a cage for the nights because im not very creative lol

 

[Enchanted1s]

Anyone?? I raised the ceiling of their nesting box by about 7 inches. Looks like too much to me - but I clearly don't really know what I am doing. I can easily lower it? Thoughts & guidance appreciated.

Notice the two pullets have decided to roost in the newly created area! Seems like they will get cold there! The roost they usually sleep on is just below where they are now. It's hard to see them in the picture, but they are both at the top.

This was my temporary solution until I can get some more advice.

 

[TalkALittle]

By "nesting box" do you mean that whole enclosed space? That is commonly called the "coop" and the outdoor area is referred to as the "run" or "pen". Nest boxes are the little place where they actually lay the eggs.

So it looks like you raised the ceiling of the coop. I would suggest just taking it off entirely and having the whole space open to the roof panels. Make sure the roof is attached tightly and can't be ripped off by wind or predator and you will be good to go. With more head space, warm air can rise and escape through the gaps at the roofline.

You'll also then want to extend the wall between the coop and run area up to the roofline. I'd probably install some kind of adjustable vent on that wall to allow you to increase or decrease airflow as needed.

 

[Enchanted1s]

By "nesting box" do you mean that whole enclosed space? That is commonly called the "coop" and the outdoor area is referred to as the "run" or "pen". Nest boxes are the little place where they actually lay the eggs.

So it looks like you raised the ceiling of the coop. I would suggest just taking it off entirely and having the whole space open to the roof panels. Make sure the roof is attached tightly and can't be ripped off by wind or predator and you will be good to go. With more head space, warm air can rise and escape through the gaps at the roofline.

You'll also then want to extend the wall between the coop and run area up to the roofline. I'd probably install some kind of adjustable vent on that wall to allow you to increase or decrease airflow as needed.

I was following you until the end - let me first explain. The 'coop' is about 8 foot wide and 7 foot or so deep. The box that the roost in is inside the coop. There are separate boxes (also in the coop) for them to lay their eggs in - because that's what they seemed to want. They all sleep in this nesting box that was originally one of those coops in a box that was way too small - in my opinion. Almost immediately, I tore it down and used the pieces for the front of the walk in coop. The box does have a laying box attached to it that my adult hen & rooster prefer to sleep in. The box is about 30 inches square - probably 40 to 48 tall now that I raised the roof. It is open (somewhat closed for the winter) on two sides [South & East].

If I take the top off completely, the two American Game Hen pullets would be going in and out from the top. I have had it raised for a couple of days now and it seems to have taken care of the problem. I removed any roosts from within a foot of the top and put a slat across the middle - I will get another picture up tomorrow. I use the space on top of the raised roof to store a few things - seems to be working out, but now I need to build another coop to introduce the babies. Hopefully the new coop I can build right the first time!

 

[Hamiam]

I was following you until the end - let me first explain. The 'coop' is about 8 foot wide and 7 foot or so deep. The box that the roost in is inside the coop. There are separate boxes (also in the coop) for them to lay their eggs in - because that's what they seemed to want. They all sleep in this nesting box that was originally one of those coops in a box that was way too small - in my opinion. Almost immediately, I tore it down and used the pieces for the front of the walk in coop. The box does have a laying box attached to it that my adult hen & rooster prefer to sleep in. The box is about 30 inches square - probably 40 to 48 tall now that I raised the roof. It is open (somewhat closed for the winter) on two sides [South & East].

If I take the top off completely, the two American Game Hen pullets would be going in and out from the top. I have had it raised for a couple of days now and it seems to have taken care of the problem. I removed any roosts from within a foot of the top and put a slat across the middle - I will get another picture up tomorrow. I use the space on top of the raised roof to store a few things - seems to be working out, but now I need to build another coop to introduce the babies. Hopefully the new coop I can build right the first time!

I think too much ventilation is better than not enough. Sounds like you have the airflow above them now & that's good. @aart is my "go to" BYC member when it comes to ventilation. He's been a great resource while building my winter coop. He's got a link to a good article on ventilation. Good info for when you start your new coop plans.

 

[Latestarter]

I'll try to have a go at it here... first, 20°f is NOT cold for a chicken. They wear down parkas year round except during molt. Ventilation is a great thing. Normally more is better... Can't have too much. That being said, you want to avoid drafts/wind/gusts/breezes blowing directly on the birds when they are roosting (at night/sleeping). That's really all there is to it.

Now, chickens like to roost at the highest point they can get to. They NEED to be able to stand flat footed with their toes curled down at the front of what they are roosting on. This allows them to settle down on their keel bone and cover their feet with feathers to stay warm. Chicken's feet are not designed to "perch" though they WILL try to do so... at the highest point they can get to, if you make it possible. However that's NOT good for their feet. So, most folks recommend a thick branch, fence post rail, 2x4 with the 4"flat side" up, etc with a minimum diameter of ~4" (2x4 is 3.75"). If their nest boxes are near the height of the roost, then they will use the nest boxes which causes pooping in them, which means a lot of cleaning, which is something that I don't enjoy. So my roosts are always higher than my nest boxes. Most chickens can jump straight up 2' or more to get to a roost. when coming down from a high roosts they generally will fly down and need equal length to the height they are coming down from ... ~45° glide slope.

Now for your chicks... they need to be fully fledged before you attempt to put them outside. depending on breed, that could be anywhere from 6-10 weeks. Most will be feathered by ~8. At that point, though they will most likely be too young to roost yet, they will huddle together for warmth. If you intend to offer them heat, please use a mama brooder heating pad or some such and NOT a heat lamp/light bulb as that is a fire waiting to happen.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good advice even a heating pad without a automatic shutoff on low bend wire so they can lay under it so like a inverted u just no heat lamps they can cause fires

 

[Enchanted1s]

Thank you @Latestarter I think I am getting there I put a 1x4 perch in the box when we added the 2 pullets to the box. Prior to that (and learning about the need for flat) I had put about a 1 ½ inch branch in there for a perch. The branch is about an inch higher than the 1x4 and so close to the branch that the pullets seem to sleep on the branch and poop on the 1x4! I guess I should take the branch out.

Our babies will be 3 weeks Tuesday. Two Cream Legbars and one Buff Orpington. One of my issues is to get any power to the coop(s) it will take about 200 (or more) feet of extension cords! I think the babies may just have to sleep in the house for another month or so.

Just acquired chickens earlier this year - they just started appearing (from over the fence)! Got this coop together before winter and already planning another! A million thanks to all the contributors here at BYC!!

 

[ShiftyShickens]

ventilation is key! moisture buildup from the chicken poop and their breathing combined with the cold sounds like the enemy.
a cold damp chicken will have all sorts of problems in the winter, but a dry chicken can withstand an incredibly low degree of cold no human could shake a stick at. the only other thing that a coop truly needs besides good ventilation is no drafts coming threw areas where the bird will be sleeping. wind on the girls just pulls the heat right out of their little feathers. GOOD LUCK!