Difference between draft and ventilation?

The Lazy L

Crowing
12 Years
Dec 16, 2011
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A Newbie question. What’s the difference between a draft and ventilation?

My future coop (delivery in January) has a screened opening under the roost. If that is left uncovered, with the front windows, rear ventilation and roof ridge vent plenty of ventilation should be provided.

But wouldn’t that cause on draft on the chickens when they roost?

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And if I can figure out how not to post HUGE pictures on this Forum....
 
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Couldn't tell you for sure, but my logic tells me there would be a draft.

my ventilation is far away from the roosts. It's only an inch or so wide x 4 feet long (above the door). It wasn't meant to be for ventilation.. it was my lack of building skills. It worked out in the end though.

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Both allow airflow. The main difference to me is temperature. A cool breeze blowing on you in warm/hot weather feels nice. An icy breeze blowing on you in cold weather doesn't feel so nice. You still want airflow in winter, but you don't want it blowing on your birds, which is why ventilation higher than the roosts is good in winter time (or far enough away from the roosts so that cold winds can't blow on them). Of course if you're in an area that's warm/mild year round, it's not a big deal.
 
Ventilation is basically air exhausting from the coop, taking with it, the fumes and humidity. Controlling the air INTAKE (location of intake and amount) is the way one prevents drafts.

It just isn't any more complicated than that. A ridge vent is IDEAL as it is an exhaust at the highest point of the coop. Nice coop, btw. and Welcome to BYC.

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That's what I would say. Close it up in the winter and use a poop board, and in the summer open 'er up and let the air in. I betcha the chickens will love that. Cooler air from under the coop in the summer. That's a good idea.
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A draft blows on your chickens, ventilation allows air flow to move heat, ammonia, humidity out of the coop. In summer you can't have too much air (unless you live in extremely cold place). I would cover the bottom vent and use a poop board under your roost. Your top vent is a little too close to your roost, but maybe you could close off the bottom half of it or redirect the air flow so it doesnt blow down on the chickens.
 
Easy answer - Draft is low while ventilation is high. You need ventilation near the roof line because warm air rises. that's it. It's the warm air that will carry the moisture you need to exhaust from the coop so make sure you have holes high up in the coop to allow it to vent. Cold air is heavy so you don't want holes down near the floor to draw in that cold.
 

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