Chicken Coops for Sale in Fort Fairfield, Maine
Chicken Coops for Sale in Fort Fairfield, Maine
How-To Monday: Successfully Ventilate the Cold Climate Chicken Coop
Being that we’re in the heart of winter, it’s likely you’ve come across an article or two pertaining to protecting your flock against the elements or at least on how to keep them comfortable. On my own blog I’ve discussed and the , and I’m back at it again today with a cold weather focused article, this time on how to add proper ventilation to the cold climate chicken coop. And it’s easier than you think.
Many fear that by adding ventilation they are putting their chickens in danger. After all, the vents will allow the warmest air to escape- how on earth will the flock survive without it? But the fact of the matter is, it’s that warm air that is the most dangerous to your birds. For in that warm air, the moisture is trapped- your worst enemy when it comes to frostbite not to mention exposing them to respiratory issues}. If proper ventilation is not in place, the moisture produced by your chickens will condense on available surfaces- ceilings, walls, windows, and of course frostbite-susceptible appendages such as combs, wattles, and feet. Add cold temperatures to the mix and you could be looking at frostbite. Think of it this way: have you ever gotten your hands wet while outside in the winter? Wet hands as opposed to dry} when exposed to cold air will freeze much faster and accelerate frostbite. The same applies to too much moisture in the coop.
Proper ventilation is key in aiding in the prevention of a frostbit flock.
So how and where do we add ventilation and how much? Let’s discuss that now.
1. How much ventilation is needed?
According to the book “Raising Poultry the Modern Way” by Leonard S. Mercia, one fifth of your coop wall space should be ventilated. You can go by the books or you can go by your nose which is what I would personally suggest}. If it smells stuffy or ammonia is present, you probably need some more ventilation. In fact, you probably need more ventilation than you think. The great thing is if you believe you’ve ended up with an excess of ventilation which generally the opposite is the case}, you can always cover it up or close it off. It’s more damaging to have too little ventilation than too much. Typically frostbite occurs from too much moisture and lack of ventilation than from the cold itself.
2. Where to place ventilation?
This is a really important question. In cold climates where sub-zero temperature winds are blowing, you don’t want that cold air passing through your chickens while they are roosting or in the nest boxes. You want that air exchange to happen above their heads, which means above the roosting area. Chickens do quite well in consistent cold, but not real great when exposed to drafts. So make sure that where you place your ventilation will not expose your flock to drafts. Additionally, placing your ventilation up high will ensure that the warmest air and with it the highest content of moisture}will makes its way up and out of the coop.
Ideally, add ventilation to the tops of all four coop walls. The reason for this is then in the extreme cold/blowing snow/blizzard weather, you can close off the vents most susceptible to those extremes. That way, you can keep the majority of your vents open, even in the worst of weather. Second best is cross ventilation through venting opposing walls. But if for whatever reason} you are unable to do multiple sides and perhaps can only ventilate one side}, your best bet is to add ventilation to the south side of your coop.
3. How to add ventilation?
If you’re not a carpenter, chances are the idea of altering a building in any way is a scary thing. I get it. But even the most green DIY-er can add ventilation to a chicken coop. You will need some basic tools, however:
-power drill I suggest an electric drill as you might need the extra muscle, depending on your coop walls}
-round drill bit, preferably 4″ or larger though 3″ will suffice in most cases}
-hardware cloth
-screws and washers
-optional: vent covers
We experienced a little bit of trial and error when adding this type of ventilation to our coop. I was really excited about vent covers, especially one that would open and close for easy vent management- and they were even backed with 1/16″ hardware cloth. But as it turns out, moisture escaping the coop combined with -20 temps brought about some issues.
Here is what to do and what not to do} when adding ventilation to your cold climate coop:
-The larger the hole, the less you will be fighting the frost. Smaller holes will quickly plug up as the exchange of moisture and cold air results in rapidly formed frost. Hence, the suggestion of a 4″ or larger round drill bit.
-I was planning on using metal vent covers with the 1/16″ hardware cloth backing. We drilled five holes the maximum number of holes that would fit under the vent cover}. I quickly discovered, however, that the hardware mesh with its tiny holes} plugged up with frost almost immediately. I’d chosen to add vents to both the north and south peaks of my coop. So I ended up removing the vent completely from the south side and covered it with 1/4″ hardware cloth secured with screws and washers to prevent predators from tearing the cloth off}. I would suggest two different things here: (1) place your hardware cloth over the holes on the outside of the building rather than the inside it’s easier for a predator to push in on the cloth than to pull it off}, and (2) if you do not have predators which can crawl through a 1/2″ hole like weasels}, go with 1/2″ hardware cloth. It won’t frost up quite as quickly as the 1/4″ stuff will.
View of the south side peak} of our chicken coop from the outside. 1/4″ hardware cloth has been secured over and beyond the holes to supply a healthy amount of protection from possible predation. This photo was taken after two days of brutally cold -25 and colder air temp; -50 and colder windchill}. There was little frost buildup on the mesh over the holes, but as you can see there is a little bit of ice built up between.
-On the north side of our coop, I simply removed the 1/16″ hardware cloth backing that the vent came with and placed the vent back over the holes on the outside of the coop, secured with screws}. This way, when the cold north wind blows, it cannot as easily blast right into the coop, but it still allows that warm, moisture-laden air to escape. I still have had a little bit of frost form on the vent, but I simply brush it away in the morning. The vents will be a non-issue once we’re out of winter.
View of the north side peak} of our coop from the outside.
It really is that easy.
This is just one simple way to add ventilation to your coop. There are endless options out there for other ways if you do some research, but I hope I was able to provide a relatively easy fix to those DIY’ers lacking in carpentry confidence and/or experience.
Thanks for coming by
Sources:
Raising Poultry the Modern Way Revised & Updated Version} by Leonard S. Mercia
Shared at:
Share this:
Chicken Coop Kits in Fort Fairfield, Maine
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Fort Fairfield Maine" into any one of the numerous search engines and a wealth of information will pop up. This information will provide links to other websites that will be informative and will provide the right direction for finding Fort Fairfield Maine chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Fort Fairfield, Maine With the substantial rise in poultry keeping there has been a similarly huge rise in the array of poultry materiel on sale. Fowl real estate is a case in point. It's additionally a classic instance of the good old bandwagon being got on as various would-be chicken real estate specialists peddle a selection of holiday accommodation declaring to be the suitable solution to your chicken housing demands. Commonly the rate looks desirable, the house looks appealing, hell even the clean-cut family members standing there feeding the chickens look appealing. Surely they understand a quality chicken house when they see one? There are numerous inexpensive as well as nasty coops flooding the market. I know this as I've checked a number of them in the area, as well as seen a ewe run directly via one when the feed bucket appeared. The outcome was just an expensive stack of firewood and also a small group of bemused and now homeless bantams.
Chicken Coop Large in Fort Fairfield, Maine
Most of the time these mass produced models are constructed of quick grown up timber - come the first decrease of rain they swell, leaving you either defending a doorway that won't shut, or ripping the doorway furniture off in a vain attempt to release the squawking citizens. The very first warm day means the wood dries out as well as fractures, the really felt roofing system bubbles and also boils, as well as come nightfall the hens choose not to go in. This is not as a result of their dissatisfaction at the decrease of their as soon as attractive building but since the hovel is currently a sanctuary for, as well as probably crawling with, the fowl keeper's bane, red mite. Add the fact that it claimed on the blurb that it would certainly fit four huge hens when that stocking density was based on the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, as well as exactly what are you entrusted? A couple of joints and also some kindling. A respectable coop for thee to four birds must cost you approximately ₤ 300 though this could rely on whether you elect for a cost-free standing house or one with a run affixed. Thinking you are varying your birds in a big room as well as the pop hole doorway is big enough for the type you maintain, after that the major demands of real estate boil down to three factors which will define the number of birds your home will hold; perches, nest boxes and ventilation. Many breeds of chicken will certainly perch when they visit roost during the night, this perch must preferably be 5-8cm vast with smoothed off sides so the foot rests conveniently on it. The perch ought to be above the nest box access as chickens will likewise normally search for the acme to perch. A perch below that will have the birds roosting in the nest box over night (which is by the way when they create the most poo) bring about stained eggs the following day. They should not nonetheless be so high off the floor of your home that leg injuries might take place when the bird comes down in the morning. Chickens require about 20cm of perch each (in tiny types this is certainly much less), plus if greater than one perch is mounted in your home they should be greater than 30cm apart. They will hunker up with their neighbors but are not that keen on roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front. Preferably your home ought to have a least one nest box for every single three birds and these ought to be off the ground as well as in the darkest location of the house. Your home should have appropriate ventilation: without it after that condensation will certainly accumulate every evening, even in the coldest of climate. Know, ventilation deals with the concept of cozy air leaving via a high space drawing cooler air in from a lower space - it's not a collection of holes on other walls of your house and at the same level, this is exactly what's known as a draught. If you have a house with a run connected after that the factors above are still real, but you should likewise think about the run size. The EU maximum legal equipping thickness for a free array bird is (and also allow's encounter it, one of the motivations for maintaining some chickens in your home is possibly improved or much better well-being) 2,500 birds each hectare, that's maximum one bird per 4m squared. Take a close look at a few of the bargain houses - it could well be the house has the right perches, correct air flow as well as ample nest boxes for an affordable number of birds, however will each of the chickens have anything greater than an A4 sized piece of ground to invest the day on? And so as the claiming goes, "you obtain just what you pay for". You might think you've got hold of a deal, however you and your flock might rue the day you did. Purchase the appropriate house and also it will last for a couple of years, if not longer offered the proper treatment. In the long run your poultry as well as your fowl keeping experience will certainly be a lot the much better for it.chick chickens
More Posts
Chicken Coops for Sale in Bass Harbor, Maine
Chicken Coops for Sale in Farmington, Maine
Chicken Coops for Sale in Berwick, Maine
Chicken Coops for Sale in Bailey Island, Maine
Chicken Coops for Sale in East Winthrop, Maine