Chicken Coops for Sale in Granville, Vermont
Chicken Coops for Sale in Granville, Vermont
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:
Baby Chick Hatcheries in Granville, Vermont
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Granville Vermont" 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 Granville Vermont chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Granville, Vermont With the significant increase in poultry keeping there has been a similarly big rise in the array of chicken paraphernalia on sale. Chicken real estate is a case in factor. It's likewise a timeless instance of the good old bandwagon being got on as various potential chicken housing experts peddle an array of holiday accommodation asserting to be the optimal solution to your chicken real estate demands. Frequently the price looks eye-catching, your house looks attractive, hell even the clean-cut family standing there feeding the chickens look desirable. Undoubtedly they know a professional chicken house when they see one? There are numerous economical as well as horrible coops swamping the marketplace. I know this as I've examined a number of them in the area, and also seen a ewe run straight with one when the feed bucket showed up. The outcome was just a pricey stack of firewood and also a little flock of bemused and also now homeless bantams.
Chicken Coop Run in Granville, Vermont
Most of the time these mass produced designs are built of fast grown up lumber - come the first decline of rain they swell, leaving you either fortifying a doorway that won't shut, or tearing the doorway furnishings off in a vain attempt to launch the squawking citizens. The initial warm and comfortable day means the hardwood dries as well as splits, the felt roof covering bubbles and also boils, and come nightfall the chickens choose not to enter. This is not due to their frustration at the decline of their once desirable property however considering that the hovel is currently a sanctuary for, and most likely abounding, the chicken caretaker's bane, red mite. Add that it claimed on the blurb that it would fit 4 big hens when that equipping thickness was based on the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, and also what are you left with? A couple of hinges as well as some kindling. A suitable coop for thee to 4 birds must cost you around ₤ 300 though this can depend on whether you choose for a cost-free standing house or one with a run affixed. Assuming you are ranging your birds in a big space and the pop opening door is big enough for the breed you keep, after that the major demands of housing come down to 3 points which will specify the number of birds your house will hold; perches, nest boxes and air flow. A lot of breeds of chicken will certainly perch when they go to roost at night, this perch needs to preferably be 5-8cm vast with smoothed off sides so the foot sits easily on it. The perch needs to be above the nest box access as chickens will certainly also naturally try to find the acme to perch. A perch lower than that will have the birds roosting in the nest box over night (which is incidentally when they create the most poo) causing stained eggs the list below day. They shouldn't however be so high off the flooring of your home that leg injuries could possibly happen when the bird gets down in the early morning. Chickens need about 20cm of perch each (in little breeds this is certainly less), plus if more than one perch is installed in your home they ought to be greater than 30cm apart. They will certainly hunker up with their next-door neighbors however are not that keen on roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird in front. Ideally the house should have a least one nest box for every three birds and these must be off the ground as well as in the darkest location of your home. Your house should have ample air flow: without it then condensation will develop every night, even in the coldest of weather. Understand, ventilation deals with the concept of warm and comfortable air leaving with a high space drawing cooler air in from a reduced space - it's not a collection of openings on opposite wall surfaces of your house as well as at the very same degree, 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 true, however you should additionally think about the run dimension. The EU maximum lawful stocking density for a free array bird is (as well as allow's encounter it, one of the motivations for keeping some chickens in your home is possibly enhanced or far better well-being) 2,500 birds per hectare, that's maximum one bird per 4m settled. Take a close consider a few of the bargain houses - it could well be your home has the right perches, appropriate air flow and also enough 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 spend for". You might assume you've got a bargain, yet you as well as your group can rue the day you did. Purchase the appropriate house as well as it will last for a few years, otherwise longer offered the appropriate therapy. Eventually your poultry and also your fowl maintaining experience will be a lot the better for it.coop coop
More Posts
Chicken Coops for Sale in Cambridge, Vermont
Chicken Coops for Sale in Florence, Vermont
Chicken Coops for Sale in Eden, Vermont
Chicken Coops for Sale in Bethel, Vermont
Chicken Coops for Sale in Cambridgeport, Vermont