What temperature constitutes closing ALL windows in hen house?

[wamtazlady]

Do you have any other ventilation besides the windows? Ideally ventilation should be above the roost so that a breeze coming in the vent will not blow on the birds. That ventilation should never need closing. Also, there should be about 1 square foot of ventilation that is never closed for each bird. Chickens make a lot of moisture in a coop when breathing and pooping. A dry chicken is a warm chicken so that moisture should be vented outside to keep your chickens warm.

It looks as if you could easily add ventilation to that lovely coop. You might also think about lowering the roost so that the chickens are below the open window when they roost.

 

[saysfaa]

They will breath out moisture and poop out moisture and ammonia all night. It has to go somewhere or it will cause frostbite and respiratory problems.

The easiest solution for your (very cute!) coop would be to build a new roof with 1' overhangs on each side and raised four or six inches or so higher than your current roof. Leave the gap between the current sides and the new roof open with hardware cloth to keep critters out.

How high depends on the dimensions of your coop.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Maybe you could cut out the top peaks on both sides for some higher ventilation. Of course cover with hardware cloth or something. That wouldn't be enough, but it would be a start

 

[mowin]

Keep your windows open and cover them with furnace filters to block the drafts if you can't add proper ventilation above the roosts.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Roost-level ventilation should be closed for the winter in cold climates like yours. The chickens shouldn't have wind blowing directly on them as they roost. Temperature isn't the issue - they can tolerate very cold temperatures - it's wind that's the problem, when it can ruffle and open up their feathers, breaking their natural insulation. Snow can blow in through those open windows, too. You should have 1 square foot per bird of permanent ventilation open in all seasons, but it should be high up, above their heads. Do you have any ventilation other than the windows? And how big is your coop? Your coop is extremely cute, but sadly from what I can see in your pictures it looks too small for the number of birds you have, and insufficiently ventilated for winter. They need 4 square feet of floor space per bird in the coop, 10 in the run, as a minimum. So with 6 GLW's you'd need at least 24 square feet inside (not counting nesting boxes), or a 6x4 coop. Your run doesn't look covered either, and even if it is, it's very small and very open, so it will be buried in snow in the winter. Chickens hate snow, they'll crowd inside the coop and get into mischief when cramped and bored (pecking, bullying, etc.) Look into adding ventilation high up in the coop, and putting plastic sheets, tarps or something over the sides of your run to give them a wind/snow barrier so they can spend more time outside. If the run isn't covered on top, find a way to cover it in a way that won't weigh it down and collapse it if snow piles up on top. Or if you can't do that, prepare to be out there shoveling so the chickens can get out of the coop as soon as they can.

The coop is 4x8 and is 7ft tall not including the nest boxes. There is a ridge vent. Two roosts each 4 feet long. I think the hen house has enough space. The run is 20ftx8ft and 9ft tall. I have a solid galvanized roof with a ridge vent as well. The entire coop is protected with 1/2” hardware cloth and a predator apron intact. The ridge vent covers the hen house as well as the run. There are windows on all 4 sides and what i wonder is, what weather temp At night should make me close all windows. I also have plastic i will wrap the run once there is snow in the forecast.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

It's been in the low 20's here, and I still have all the windows open. Mine windows are not higher than the roost, so I keep a eye on the weather, and once it gets windy and cold, I close them up.

Thats what i’ve been doing too. Just not sure what temp should have me closing them up.

 

[Folly's place]

The birds need ventilation! There needs to be hardware cloth covered openings high up in the coop, all year. The windward sides should be covered in very cold weather, and openings on the leeward side or sides should be open.
Pictures here help us make recommendations.
Mary

 

[BigBlueHen53]

They can handle 20s. Mine regularly experience -20 days, and colder still nights and they do fine. They need ventilation though, so I always keep at least the pop door open, usually a window too if they have any on the coops

But Jacin, it's very dry in MT, is it not? Humidity is not much of an issue there?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

But Jacin, it's very dry in MT, is it not? Humidity is not much of an issue there?

Our winter nights can get pretty humid. And ibknow some people try to keep water in the coop so that birds don't have to worry about leaving the warm house which doesn't help.

My males always lose their single combs in the winter to frostbite

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I think you should base your decision on the wind, not the temperature. Think dry and still instead of warm or cold. You want the moisture out, in really cold temperatures, the heat is not kept in in a tight coop, the moisture is kept in, and damp chickens are cold. When it is the bitterest cold, that is when the most moisture is going to condense from chicken poop (until the poop freezes solid) and breath. Deep dry bedding can help with moisture too.

So open the window on the lee side. Hang a feather from the ceiling with a thread at a couple of different heights. easy way to see the drafts and air movement.

I would only close up all the windows if the wind is howling, and I would still want ventilation above their heads.

Think dry and still air around the birds.

Mrs K

Thanks Mrs K.