Winterize pen with plastic?

[HeyHo]

Our window was open approx 1.5”-2” and is located approx 5 feet from where they roost. I did close it back up. I plan on adding more ventilation. We have openings at each peak (approx 14”x8” each). I do open the rear window during the day to add fresh air during the day and I clean the poop out every morning.

So your window is father away from the girls than mine! I defer to the experts about whether you have enough ventilation (but it sounds good to me ). I plan on adding more in the spring, too -- seems from these forums that you can't overdo overhead ventilation. I'll open the window again when the weather gets warm.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I used HDX plastic (4mil I think) on my hoop run.

It is on the cold north side of that coop. Interesting thing is my waterer in that run freezes way slower than the exposed water dishes on the west side of the big coop.



The sides can be raised for more air flow.

This picture is from last year. We have not had much snow yet this year.

 

[Rick&Chris]

So your window is father away from the girls than mine! I defer to the experts about whether you have enough ventilation (but it sounds good to me ). I plan on adding more in the spring, too -- seems from these forums that you can't overdo overhead ventilation. I'll open the window again when the weather gets warm.

Yes - the experts recommend much more ventilation which I will add ASAP.

 

[aart]

Have you measured the humidity inside and outside the coop?

 

[Rick&Chris]

Have you measured the humidity inside and outside the coop?

If my Accurite system is correct, currently 32° and 68% in the coop, 33° and 61% outside on my porch. Not sure why temps are always lower inside. I did calibrate the system the other day.

 

[aart]

If my Accurite system is correct, currently 32° and 68% in the coop, 33° and 61% outside on my porch. Not sure why temps are always lower inside. I did calibrate the system the other day.

Both temps and humidity should be close....but there will be some lag.
Can you record 3 readings(morning mid-day and nighttime) a day for a week.....
...that will give you an idea of patterns.
If humidity is consistently more than ~5-10% higher inside coop then more ventilation should probably be added. The 5-10% is a rough number based on nothing in particular.

How did you calibrate the system?

 

[Rick&Chris]

Both temps and humidity should be close....but there will be some lag.
Can you record 3 readings(morning mid-day and nighttime) a day for a week.....
...that will give you an idea of patterns.
If humidity is consistently more than ~5-10% higher inside coop then more ventilation should probably be added. The 5-10% is a rough number based on nothing in particular.

How did you calibrate the system?

I’ll keep an eye on the numbers and see how they differ.

I put the two sensors side by side outside to see if the numbers matched - they didn’t. I got the real numbers from weather.com and reset the values in the unit. I am assume that they are correct now.

 

[aart]

I put the two sensors side by side outside to see if the numbers matched - they didn’t. I got the real numbers from weather.com and reset the values in the unit. I am assume that they are correct now.

For temp or humidity...or both?
Weather dot com might not be accurate for your yard.
I use a WU weather station that is located a mile away and maintained by a buddy of mine, we've done a bunch of tests and comparisons and they are not always the same.
But I digress...as long as sensors match, the actual numbers don't really matter as you just want to compare humidity inside and outside the coop.

 

[jreardon1918]

Windows open at night too?

Yes. I shut them a bit if the temperature goes below zero Fahrenheit. That has not happened this year, but did last year.

 

[Rick&Chris]

6F degrees in the coop this morning. Girls were scrambling to get outside (LOL) - they are tough cookies!