Chicken Coops for Sale in S Coffeyville, Oklahoma
Chicken Coops for Sale in S Coffeyville, Oklahoma
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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Baby Chick Enclosure in S Coffeyville, Oklahoma
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in S Coffeyville Oklahoma" 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 S Coffeyville Oklahoma chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in S Coffeyville, Oklahoma With the big rise in poultry keeping there has actually been a similarly huge increase in the array of fowl paraphernalia for sale. Chicken real estate is a proceedings in factor. It's likewise a classic example of the good old bandwagon being jumped on as various prospective fowl real estate specialists pitch an array of lodging asserting to be the optimal option to your chicken real estate demands. Usually the cost looks desirable, your house looks attractive, hell even the clean-cut family standing there feeding the chickens look attractive. Undoubtedly they recognize a quality chicken house when they see one? There are several inexpensive as well as awful coops flooding the marketplace. I understand this as I've tested a variety of them in the area, and also seen a ewe run straight through one when the feed bucket showed up. The outcome was just a pricey pile of firewood as well as a little group of bemused and also currently homeless bantams.
Chicken Coop Free Plans in S Coffeyville, Oklahoma
Most of the time these mass produced models are created of fast grown up hardwood - come the first drop of rainfall they swell, leaving you either fortifying a door that won't close, or tearing the door furniture off in a vain effort to release the squawking inhabitants. The initial warm and comfortable day means the lumber dries out as well as fractures, the really felt roofing bubbles and also boils, and also come nightfall the chickens choose not to enter. This is not because of their dissatisfaction at the decrease of their once eye-catching residential property yet since the hovel is now a haven for, as well as most likely abounding, the chicken caretaker's nemesis, red mite. Add on that it claimed on the blurb that it would certainly suit 4 big chickens when that equipping density was based on the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, and also exactly what are you left with? A number of joints and also some kindling. A decent coop for thee to 4 birds ought to cost you approximately ₤ 300 though this can depend upon whether you choose for a cost-free standing house or one with a run affixed. Thinking you are varying your birds in a big area as well as the pop hole doorway is big sufficient for the breed you maintain, after that the primary requirements of real estate boil down to 3 points which will define the number of birds your house will certainly hold; perches, nest boxes and ventilation. Many types of chicken will perch when they visit roost during the night, this perch must preferably be 5-8cm vast with smoothed off edges so the foot sits easily on it. The perch must be higher than the nest box entry as chickens will certainly also normally try to find the acme to perch. A perch below that will certainly have the birds roosting in the nest box overnight (which is incidentally when they create the most poo) causing stained eggs the following day. They shouldn't nonetheless be so high off the floor of your home that leg injuries can occur when the bird gets down in the early morning. Chickens need regarding 20cm of perch each (in tiny breeds this is certainly much less), plus if more than one perch is set up in your home they should be more than 30cm apart. They will certainly hunker up with their next-door neighbors yet are not that keen on roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird ahead. Preferably your house must have a the very least one nest box for each 3 birds as well as these need to be off the ground and in the darkest area of your house. Your house must have ample ventilation: without it after that condensation will build up every night, also in the coldest of climate. Realize, ventilation deals with the concept of warm and comfortable air leaving through a high gap attracting cooler air in from a lower gap - it's not a collection of holes on other wall surfaces of your house and at the same level, this is just what's called a draught. If you have a house with a run affixed after that the factors above are still true, however you need to also consider the run dimension. The EU optimum legal stocking thickness for a free variety bird is (as well as let's face it, among the inspirations for keeping some hens in your home is perhaps enhanced or better welfare) 2,500 birds each hectare, that's maximum one bird per 4m squared. Take a close check out a few of the deal homes - it could well be your house has the right perches, correct air flow and ample nest boxes for a practical number of birds, yet will each of the chickens have anything more than an A4 sized piece of ground to invest the day on? Therefore as the claiming goes, "you get exactly what you spend for". You could believe you've got a bargain, but you and also your flock could possibly rue the day you did. Purchase the right house as well as it will last for a few decades, if not longer given the right treatment. Eventually your chicken and your poultry maintaining experience will certainly be much the far better for it.build build
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