Difference between draft and ventilation?

[The Lazy L]

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?

And if I can figure out how not to post HUGE pictures on this Forum....

 

[aoxa]

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.

 

[SarniaTricia]

If you close up around the bottom in the winter, you shouldn't get a breeze? I think it is just a matter of not giveing the air a chance to flow straight through. make it take a few turns and it turns from draft to ventilation.

 

[Fred's Hens]

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.

 

[WishboneDawn]

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.

 

[4Sunnysideup]

our coop has roof that slopes backwards- and over hangs in the front - for ventilation we used soffit(as used for homes w/ vinyl siding) and hardware cloth on the inside to "close" up the rafter spaces. We also have a screen door on the front which during warm weather is open - the screen door screen is reinforced to protect against predators, and there is a window also that is left open during the warm months in picture1. you see the over hang and the spaces picture2 the soffit and window are in place and screen door ( at the bottom the hinged flap is to spray out the coop- ) in picture 3 the soffit is more visible.
You can also use HVAC floor vents or wall vents as an option too.

 

[cravenchx]

I love your design! Maybe you could
close up a bit during the cold season!

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
Yeah, if it was on a slant and not fully open, I don't see why that wouldn't work.

 

[teach1rusl]

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.

 

[Ole rooster]

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.