The Poultry Keeper

nenee · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 56 Location: north wales

HI

Iv read that ventilation is very important for quality of air and preventing disease etc. But Im concerned about letting in too much ventilation due to the cold windy weather.

My Coop has a vent at the top of the coop which is above the chickens, i can slide it open and theres wire behind it, but im scared of opening it too much and at the mo im opening it about a cm's width so theres just a little bit of air getting in, is this enough as im scared the cold winds and cold weather will make them ill?

cheers Smile

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1452 Location: Leicestershire

Warm and stagnant air in the coop is more likely to be harmful than good ventilation. As your vent is above the birds it would be better to have it fully open and only close it if driving rain were going through it and wetting everything.

Itsybitsy

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1712 Location: Carmarthenshire

If it's really cold and windy i cover the vents loosly with hessian, this helps to keep them warmer but still ventilated.

Bhindi · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

my girls have no doors in their coop, the wind does come in but because their room oops.. roost bars are just off the side it passes them by, it can get quite chilly in there but so far I've not had a problem

nenee · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 56 Location: north wales

Thanks for replying Very Happy

Its so funny how protective ya get when new to chickens, its hard to get out he mind set that they are not pets lol and that they are meant to be outside etc.

Do i just get some material pin it over the vent so it stops the wind directly going in but lifts up to let in air?

im nervous about the vent as my garden backs on to farm land and its always windy and cold, its absolutely chucking it down and blowing a gale as we speak Sad

whats ever happened to our lovely hot summers, it only ever seems to rain and be windy lately Rolling Eyes

cheers

nenee · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 56 Location: north wales

Ok this is most probably a silly question but im new to keeping chickens so I might get away with asking Wink

Its raining a lot today do I still let them out onto the garden even though its hard rain? or keep them in their sheltered run?

nenee Smile

Auntie Noo · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 622 Location: Guildford

Let em out and see what they do - they all have a preference. I have one who loves the cold wet weather because it gives her an unhindered time at the feeder without the others bullying her. SHe'll stand out there all day, and is happy as larry. Most of the other big ones mooch in and out, and I've just opened the door for the chicks (6 weeks old this week!) and they ran around like mad, fed, watered, had a fight, and then went back to bed! Smile

As long as they can get to shelter if they want it they will be fine.

nenee · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 56 Location: north wales

Cool Il do that now the sun has actually shown itself so it will be nice for them to exercise.

do i put their food and water out of the run(the door will be left open to access their food) or do i leave it in the run as iv heard i dont want wild birds pecking at it, also it will get wet to

cant believe im asking these silly questions but its so easy to do something silly that affects the chickens lol Rolling Eyes

nenee

mojo · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 11:02 am Post subject:

chickens are all differant some love the rain some hate it much like kids really always allow them access to choose and ventalation is important .drafts kill not lots of fresh aiir chickens are a lot hardier than folks think dont mollycoddle and they will be fine

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3540 Location: Monmouthshire

Not silly at all. Don't move the chicken's food about the place as they know where to find it in their run & it gives them an incentive to go in.

nenee · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 56 Location: north wales

cheers guys good advice there

i have left the food in the run with the door open, iv noticed its got wet though the wind has blown the rain threw the side mesh(the top has a roof over the run) do i now need to chuck all the wet layers pellets and put new dry food and how do i stop it getting wet a i presume it will go yukky if damp and go mouldy?

also iv had no eggs of my polish chickens does it take a while after they have been moved or do they hardly lay in the winter?

nenee Very Happy

Coaster · Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

can you not put the food under the run ? yes throw the wet food away as it will go off fast. Your polish hens may be just having a rest, don't pressure them after all they are women lol
sorry had to get that in