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How do you balance ventilation and warmth in a poultry house?

 
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I am trying to understand how people balance fresh air with temperature control in poultry housing.
Too little ventilation can create moisture and ammonia issues, while too much uncontrolled airflow can make birds uncomfortable in cold or wet weather.
What design details have made the biggest difference for your setup: ridge vents, side curtains, fans, insulation, house orientation, or stocking density?
 
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I'd suggest reading Fresh-Air Poultry Houses: The Classic Guide to Open-Front Chicken Coops for Healthier Poultry by Prince T. Woods: https://www.amazon.com/dp/097217706X (And I think the text is available online for free if that's easier for you.)

And check out this thread: https://permies.com/t/177926/shelters-habitat/Woods-Fresh-Air-coop-build
 
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Emma I'm afraid you get the typical permaculture answer. It depends.
I live in N. California, and have a very open coop. In the winter I put a couple of corrugated steel panels up so my hens are not getting wet on the roosting bars if it rains. It's  kinda closed in on 3 sides in the back of the coop, and the rest is pretty much chicken wire. For me I have to worry more about the heat than the cold.
How cold will it get where you live?  
I hope someone else chimes in, we think we are freezing to death if it gets into the 30s, so I'm probably not the best source. Good luck.
 
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