Chicken Coops for Sale in Hillsdale, Michigan
Chicken Coops for Sale in Hillsdale, Michigan
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
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Chicken Coop Pallets in Hillsdale, Michigan
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Hillsdale Michigan" 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 Hillsdale Michigan chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Hillsdale, Michigan With the huge rise in poultry keeping there has actually been a similarly huge rise in the range of chicken paraphernalia on sale. Poultry housing is a proceedings in point. It's also a timeless example of the good old bandwagon being jumped on as different would-be fowl housing professionals pitch a range of accommodation declaring to be the optimal option to your chicken real estate needs. Often the rate looks desirable, the house looks eye-catching, heck even the clean-cut family members standing there feeding the chickens look eye-catching. Undoubtedly they recognize a professional chicken house when they see one? There are lots of cheap and also horrible cages flooding the market. I know this as I've checked a variety of them in the area, and also seen a ewe run directly via one when the feed pail showed up. The outcome was only an expensive heap of fire wood and a small group of bemused and now homeless bantams.
Chicken Coop Door in Hillsdale, Michigan
Usually these mass produced models are created of rapid grown up timber - come the initial decline of rain they swell, leaving you either fortifying a doorway that will not shut, or tearing the doorway furniture off in a vain attempt to release the squawking inhabitants. The first warm and comfortable day suggests the timber dries out and fractures, the felt roof bubbles and also boils, and also come nightfall the chickens refuse to go in. This is not because of their dissatisfaction at the decrease of their as soon as desirable home however because the hovel is now a sanctuary for, as well as probably abounding, the fowl caretaker's nemesis, red mite. Add that it stated on the blurb that it would certainly fit four big hens when that stocking density was based on the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, and what are you left with? A few joints and also some kindling. A respectable coop for thee to four birds must cost you in the region of ₤ 300 though this could rely on whether you choose for a free standing house or one with a run attached. Thinking you are ranging your birds in a big space and the pop opening doorway is big enough for the breed you maintain, after that the primary demands of real estate come down to three factors which will certainly define the number of birds your home will certainly hold; perches, nest boxes as well as ventilation. Most breeds of chicken will certainly perch when they go to roost in the evening, this perch should ideally be 5-8cm wide with smoothed off edges so the foot rests pleasantly on it. The perch should be higher than the nest box access as chickens will certainly likewise naturally seek the acme to perch. A perch lower than that will have the birds roosting in the nest box over night (which is by the way when they generate the most poo) leading to soiled eggs the list below day. They should not nonetheless be so high off the flooring of your home that leg injuries can take place when the bird comes down in the early morning. Chickens require about 20cm of perch each (in small breeds this is obviously much less), plus if greater than one perch is mounted in your home they need to be more than 30cm apart. They will certainly hunker up with their neighbors however are not that keen on roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front. Ideally the house needs to have a the very least one nest box for each 3 birds as well as these must be off the ground as well as in the darkest location of the house. The house ought to have appropriate ventilation: without it then condensation will accumulate every night, even in the chilliest of weather condition. Be aware, ventilation works on the principle of cozy air leaving with a high void drawing cooler air in from a lower gap - it's not a collection of openings on other wall surfaces of the house and at the exact same degree, this is exactly what's referred to as a draught. If you have a house with a run connected after that the factors above are still real, but you should also consider the run dimension. The EU maximum lawful stocking density for a totally free array bird is (as well as allow's face it, among the inspirations for keeping some hens in your home is potentially improved or far better welfare) 2,500 birds each hectare, that's maximum one bird each 4m squared. Take a close check out some of the bargain houses - it could well be your home has the appropriate perches, right air flow as well as adequate nest boxes for an affordable variety of birds, yet will each of the chickens have anything more than an A4 sized item of ground to spend the day on? And so as the stating goes, "you get exactly what you pay for". You might assume you've grabbed a bargain, however you as well as your group could rue the day you did. Acquisition the best house and also it will certainly last for a few decades, if not longer provided the right therapy. In the end your fowl and your fowl keeping experience will certainly be considerably the far better for it.coop diy
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