What temperature constitutes closing ALL windows in hen house?

[rosemarythyme]

There is a ridge vent.

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.

Ridge vents get snowed over, which means they provide 0 ventilation in snowy weather.

Without any additional vents (which I don't see any) some of the windows will need to be left propped open the entire time (obviously consider your wind direction and how protected each window is when choosing which ones to leave open, and still aim for 1 sq ft or more per bird). Consider adding more vents up high but under the roofline next year so you can close the windows if you want.

 

[Alaskan]

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

But if the outside has high humidity...

Not much you can do, except change breeds. I no longer have breeds with tall combs.

I have high humidity, I do not close vents.

I have one window at perch level in my coop, but the way the ventilation is set up it doesn't blow in on the perch. The air swirls up, mostly over the heads of the perched chickens. I figure of it gets really bad... they do have places to move to.

 

[Alaskan]

Oh... and we are hitting negatives F this week.

 

[Alaskan]

It looks like the best idea would be to fully open the windows that face into your wonderful covered run.

I would close the side windows.

If you could sweep off the snow from the ride vent over the coop? (Not sure how easy/hard that would be) that would help.

Best ventilation would be to cut out a huge triangle of plywood on the run side. That entire area where you right now have the "love" sign hanging. That triangle of space is above the heads of the chickens, AND fully covered by the roofed run, so should be able to be open 24/7 all year around without any snow blowing into the coop.

Also, Wyandottes are an excellent breed choice for your climate. Tiny combs, clean feet, and pretty as well.

 

[Debnsync]

Good morning from CT everyone! With the cold coming, and this being my first winter with 6 beautiful, healthy GLW’s, i ask you, what temperatures constitute closing ALL windows? I get confused about the condensation topic. For example if it is 25 degrees overnight, should i close all windows?? Their roost is eye level with the windows all the way around the coop. I have been closing all but 1 window that i leave open a little bit. What are your thoughts?

Hi, I definitely closed my windows though we have good ventilation recommended through the high-level open space covered with hardware wire/mesh stuff all around below our roofline so it’s well above the roosts. When we have had the dips into the 40’s F at night the windows were shut and then we aired out during these past few days in the daytime. They are closed tonight and will always be when it goes into into 30’s F here in Piedmont of N.C. I am a newbie, too, so I read what others say and the kind person wrote truthful answers here to your questions. Best to all!

 

[3KillerBs]

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

The chickens are good at least down to 0F and possibly lower.

But keeping them dry and having the vents above their heads is key.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

the birds provide their own humidity, as well. Ventilation, ventilation. Draft free always. and if windblown snows are going to be an annual issue, look at your coop design for changes come spring, as its likely too late in the year to build a vestibule or similar off the windward side

 

[3KillerBs]

as its likely too late in the year to build a vestibule or similar off the windward side

I'm beginning to think that chicken coops should be designed with porches.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

while i don't have winter, i do get strong winds out of the north and barely sub freezing temps - blowing straight in the door of my original coop. So i located my second coop to block the strongest of it and cause that confused swirl of wind you see when a large sharp sided object gets planted in an air stream.

Letting some shrubs grow to do the same, will take a while to be effective though

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Ridge vents get snowed over, which means they provide 0 ventilation in snowy weather.

Without any additional vents (which I don't see any) some of the windows will need to be left propped open the entire time (obviously consider your wind direction and how protected each window is when choosing which ones to leave open, and still aim for 1 sq ft or more per bird). Consider adding more vents up high but under the roofline next year so you can close the windows if you want.

Thank you RMT. You send the message perfectly. hopefully the pitch of roof has the snow sliding off! We shall see! The coop was built May 2021 so this is our first official winter in New England. Hindsight gets ya every time. I do wish we did cutouts along the roof line with hardware cloth. ah, my guy is gonna love me when I request he cut holes is his precious coop, lol. my instincts tell me that the ridge vent is not 100% because sometimes i notice on the outside of the roof, above where they roost, when its cold, there is a visible area that appears warmed over. Does this make sense? i dont know how to explain it, but maybe you understand. Maybe condensation build up? I'm going to hang a feather and see about the wind and leave any windows open this winter. unfortunately their windows are ALL roost level with No windows above. In order to move roosts to lower than windows, its impossible because the nesting boxes are on both walls. Wait....... maybe I can change the roosts to the other direction...... so instead of having two 4ft long roosts, I can do four 2ft roosts. Look at pic, and tell me if you see what I mean. That would mean their roosts would be much lower. Does that matter? the roosts will be only inches above their deep bedding which is about 4-6 inches deep. i assume as long as they are on a roost it shouldnt matter how high they are, or, would they be too close to where their poop falls? huh..... just thought of that and will consider before next winter. Thanks again for sharing your time and knowledge. You are a gem!