jeshen Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Was disconcerted this morning when doing room service for my girls, to find both Go-Ups were covered in condensation inside. Has anyone else had problems with this? If so, would be grateful for thoughts on how to deal with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I don't have a Go but my first thought is maybe moisture in the bedding material, even stored in a shed a bale of straw or aubiouse type will start to absorb the moisture in the air I would think. Hopefully someone else with a Go will be along in a tick, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I had a mold problem in the beginning. I used wood shavings as bedding in the poop drawer. Now I switched to newspaper and a lot less mold. Only when I leave cleaning for a bit longer then my usual, a bit of mold appears. No condensation so far, but I only have three little bantams in my Up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted December 30, 2014 Author Share Posted December 30, 2014 Thanks both. I use easichick bedding (kept in watertight container in greenhouse.) I clean them out every day so I don't think it's from poop. Never had a problem until the last few days when the weather's turned much colder. Still have snow in the garden and heavy frosts for the last few nights. Maybe I'll try newspaper instead. I guess one answer would be to put some sort of heater underneath each Go, but OH doesn't think that's feasible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I haven't noticed any in my Go Jeshen but maybe I just haven't looked properly! The vents aren't blocked by snow and frozen over or something are they? Maybe it's just because your girls have made it so much warmer than outside - how many of the gang are in there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Do you have the insulation fitted between the inner and outer shell? Maybe that is restricting any needed air flow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted December 30, 2014 Author Share Posted December 30, 2014 Thanks for these sensible suggestions. I've been wondering whether it could be to do with the number of girls, mullethunter. They've sorted themselves out so that 6 sleep in one Go and 4 in the other. However, both Gos (Goes??!) were equally damp. Cat tails - we've insulated the door of one of the Gos and have been intending to insulate the other Go door together with the sides of both. However, I'm wondering whether ventilation is more important than insulation. They all cuddle up together and are obviously generating a fair bit of heat. Maybe we'll get rid of the door insulation and forget insulating altogether. Just hope they'll be warm enough if it gets any colder.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 I did buy the extreme temperature insulation, but haven't fitted it yet. Don't think it's cold enough here yet. I think with 6 pekins they should be able to keep themselves warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 Yes, Cat Tails, I agree. Found this online: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/11/surviving-winter-with-chickens.html I'm not going to bother insulating at all this winter. It's so easy to think that their needs are like ours when they're not. May try using sand in the poop tray..... Here's to another year of happy chickeneering for us all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Oh sand! Haven't thought of that yet! Would make it easy to clean. What type of sand are you planning to try? But my immediate concern would be: Won't it cause to much dust and leading to respiratory problems? In which bin are you going to leave the poop with sand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 Have read some more online opinions about sand and have gone off the idea, Cat Tails! I think I'm just going to wipe the inside roof of the Go with kitchen towel each day to get rid of any damp and keep changing the litter (easichick) every day so that the poop doesn't cause moisture. They're all having oatibix mixed with warm water at about 4pm, which they devour, together with their usual handful of corn and hopefully these will help keep them warm through the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Condensation is more damaging to the birds than cold air therefore I would remove any insulation and even try leaving the door open/ajar on milder nights. they can cope very well with cold but damp really gets to them chooks have much higher body temps than us, many of mine sleep out at night or in coops with open or even no doors - even Pekins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 I never close any of the doors anymore. I used to when I started off! I have 8 in the and think they would create a lot of condensation if I closed the door. The cube run is coverered. 3 ex commercial in the in the WIR which is coverered. And 2 bantams in another with the run covererd. They all appear warm when I put my hand in at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 I have no choice but to keep the door closed. Whenever I've forgotten to close it, they wake up at 5:30 (yes even in winter...) and start squawking for food... Silly hens. So door closed. But I have been checking for the last few days and no condensation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 Thanks all. We're going to remove the door insulation today and not bother insulating at all. Unfortunately I can't leave coop doors open as the fenced area they're in is not covered. No condensation the last couple of days as it's been milder, but will check each morning and dry if necessary. Maybe Omlet should make it clear that these 'extreme weather' covers and liners are not necessary and may even cause more harm than good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
