What humidity level is ideal in winter? Below 80% below 50% etc?

[Echelontheory101]

Hi all!

I live in northern New England so winters here are snowy and cold. My coop/run combo is wrapped in the winter with ventilation up top. I have a hydrogrometer and thermometer set up in the coop/run that I can check from my phone. Current October stats below so you can compare the run/coop to outside ambient stats. Im not worried about the cold, because I ensured draft free and have a cozy coop plate behind the roost bar BUT I set up an exhaust fan that I can remotely turn on and off but I dont really know what I'm aiming for humidity wise. For example, if its under 30 degrees and more than 50% humidity thats when wattle/comb frostbite happens? Over 60% humidity etc. Haven't really been able to find a definitive range on Google.

 

[DobieLover]

You want the inside of the coop humidity to be as close to the outdoor humidity as possible. You should have a second sensor set up outside the coop in a sheltered area and monitor it to compare to the conditions in the coop.

It would be very interesting to monitor the humidity with no birds in the coop as see how it changes after they have all gone to roost.

 

[Echelontheory101]

You want the inside of the coop humidity to be as close to the outdoor humidity as possible. You should have a second sensor set up outside the coop in a sheltered area and monitor it to compare to the conditions in the coop.

It would be very interesting to monitor the humidity with no birds in the coop as see how it changes after they have all gone to roost.

The screenshot stats are from it being empty, the chicks are inside my house in their brooder its my first batch. They'll be going outside the weekend of Thanksgiving.

Also thank you! So it sounds like if internal humidity is more or less same as ambient then they'll probably be fine? Even if ambient humidity is high when it shows?

Thanks again!

 

[DobieLover]

The screenshot stats are from it being empty, the chicks are inside my house in their brooder its my first batch. They'll be going outside the weekend of Thanksgiving.

Also thank you! So it sounds like if internal humidity is more or less same as ambient then they'll probably be fine? Even if ambient humidity is high when it shows?

Thanks again!

How old are the chicks?

I have never brooded indoors. The chicks always do better outside. I've brooded chicks outside when night time temps have dropped into the low 20's. If you have a brooder plate, I would set them up outside to finish brooding. They will acclimate to their environment faster and feather out quicker.

Unless you use a dehumidifier and seal up the coop, you will never get the humidity lower in the inside than ambient.
I wouldn't worry if the inside humidity was 5% higher than outside. If it goes much higher than that and the temps were dipping below freezing I would consider adding extra ventilation.

 

[Echelontheory101]

How old are the chicks?

I have never brooded indoors. The chicks always do better outside. I've brooded chicks outside when night time temps have dropped into the low 20's. If you have a brooder plate, I would set them up outside to finish brooding. They will acclimate to their environment faster and feather out quicker.

Unless you use a dehumidifier and seal up the coop, you will never get the humidity lower in the inside than ambient.
I wouldn't worry if the inside humidity was 5% higher than outside. If it goes much higher than that and the temps were dipping below freezing I would consider adding extra ventilation.

Thanks! Right now 3 of them are 2 weeks old and 8 of them are 1 week old. I dont have electricity out at the coop/run for the brooder and its below freezing here at night already so they'll be inside but with plenty of leaves and sod plugs in their brooder to scratch around in and then in probably one more week they'll be spending their days out in the coop and nights back in the brooder until theyre fully feathered then out permanently. It'll probably be sooner than later thanksgiving is just a guesstimate. Thanks for the info on the humidity!

 

[Triangle Nostril]

You want the inside of the coop humidity to be as close to the outdoor humidity as possible. You should have a second sensor set up outside the coop in a sheltered area and monitor it to compare to the conditions in the coop.

It would be very interesting to monitor the humidity with no birds in the coop as see how it changes after they have all gone to roost.

Ah, I have a similar setup but I usually use my local weather humidity to determine what it is outside. It seems pretty accurate - a lot of times my coop will be around the same level as it is outside according to my weather app. But I think I should get another sensor to be exact.