Warming back up, can be a dangerous time

[Mrs. K]

I know that many of you are frozen solid with the polar vortex, but it is suppose to ease this week-end. And that might be the most dangerous time for frost bite.

In my experience, in the cold weather, everything is frozen solid, and therefore, not contributing much to the moisture in the coop. When that warm weather comes in, the poop will also thaw out, and ice will melt, and all of the water will be going into the air, only to have darkness and cooler temperatures come back down.

In my experience, that is when you get frostbite. So if it warms up, get out there if you can, add more dry bedding, throw scratch on top of the poopy bedding, and the girls will turn it for you. Make sure the ventilation is wide open, so you can keep it dry.

Mrs K

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I planned to open up my west facing door tomorrow. Good advice.

 

[centrarchid]

It is also when the battle of necrosis gets underway. Infection makes a subsequent cool down more risky for frostbite.

 

[aart]

Make sure the ventilation is wide open, so you can keep it dry.

That's an all well and good theory...but....

Even without the projected rainfall here, the humidity will skyrocket, inside and outside the coop (with my copious ventilation it's always about the same), you can't make it drier inside the coop that it is outside the coop.

With the foot of snow of the north roof of coop, even with asphalt shingles, tar paper and 1x roof sheathing...this will happen:

Enough to drip on the floor:

 

[Ridgerunner]

Good warning. Frozen poop and other frozen stuff will thaw, raising humidity. Just do the best you can, it's hard to do much better.

 

[WindingRoad]

I know that many of you are frozen solid with the polar vortex, but it is suppose to ease this week-end. And that might be the most dangerous time for frost bite.

In my experience, in the cold weather, everything is frozen solid, and therefore, not contributing much to the moisture in the coop. When that warm weather comes in, the poop will also thaw out, and ice will melt, and all of the water will be going into the air, only to have darkness and cooler temperatures come back down.

In my experience, that is when you get frostbite. So if it warms up, get out there if you can, add more dry bedding, throw scratch on top of the poopy bedding, and the girls will turn it for you. Make sure the ventilation is wide open, so you can keep it dry.

Mrs K

We had a warm spell a couple of weeks ago. Close to 50 and rain. I had to scoop out all the nest boxes. 3 of them. What a chore. LOL. And the poop board. All the poop had thawed. And put down DE booo hisss sand and more pine shavings with PDZ. But the coop sure smelled better and my chickens seemed to like it too. New stuff to scratch around. LOL

 

[chickens really]

I live in central Alberta, Canada and temp are up and down daily and weekly. Zero issues with frostbite...

 

[centrarchid]

I live in central Alberta, Canada and temp are up and down daily and weekly. Zero issues with frostbite...

Show us pictures of breeds and how they are kept. Ducks do not count.

 

[chickens really]

Show us pictures of breeds and how they are kept. Ducks do not count.

Housing definitely plays a big part in Chicken or Duck keeping..