This problem occurs especially in winter. Due to the temperature fluctuations, condensation forms and precipitates in the (chicken) coop as well as on the animals present. This can cause the head decorations to freeze afterwards.
Is it sufficient to treat and/or cover the metal sheets with something or do I have to insulate extra? This is a chicken shed; so I would like to keep costs low.
Answer
The amount of water vapor that air can contain is limited. If you want more water vapor to be absorbed by the air, it will condense too much. The maximum amount of water vapor that air can hold depends strongly on temperature: the lower the temperature, the less water vapor the air can hold before condensation occurs.
It can happen that the temperature in a room is high enough that the air is, for example, 80% saturated, but that certain parts of the room (usually the windows) are colder, so that the air cannot contain as much water there and the water vapor condenses. That is why you have ‘fogged windows’ and for the same reason you get ice build-up on the freezer compartment in your refrigerator.
The same thing happens in your chicken house. Presumably the air is humid and warm and contains a lot of water vapor, but above the dew point. The roof is much colder and has a temperature below the dew point, so the water vapor condenses there.
There is only one solution: ensure that the dew point is not exceeded. This can be done by removing moisture from the air (ventilation is often sufficient) or by increasing the temperature of the roof through insulation.
Answered by
Prof Walter Lauriks
Physics Acoustics
Old Market 13 3000 Leuven
https://www.kuleuven.be/
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