Five Steps to Prepare Your Barn For Winter

The leaves have fallen and winter is almost here again. It is important to prepare the barn for this time of year to keep the birds warm, avoid unnecessary expenses with electric bills, assure good air quality, control litter moisture and reduce problem with pests that might hide inside your barn during the cold months. Make sure your barn is winter-ready with these 5 steps.

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Fully inspect your barn. Check for cracks, holes, gaps, water leaks or any damage that can either cool your birds or allow pests inside.
Fix your house tightness. Spray foam or caulk on the side and end walls. Also, repair any cracks and holes in your walls and ceiling to avoid leaks as much as possible.
Check your static pressure. Close all doors, vents, fans and shutters, then turn on one fan to create a negative pressure. Measure your static pressure – you can use a Magnehelic static pressure gauge. The pressure should be between 0.05”and 0.12”
Inspect your fans and vents. Make sure they are working. Clean them and tighten or replace fan belts if needed.
Check your heater. Check and clean your boilers and heaters. Apply soapy water in your heater to expose external cracks. Fix and replace parts as needed.

To read more about this topic check the resources below:

Fan selection for poultry housing

How-to: tight test a house

Poultry house ventilation for cold weather

Preparing your barn for winter

Preparing your poultry houses for winter

Winter poultry barn pest prevention

What is the optimal static pressure when using air inlets?