Grow light in coop

[NatJ]

Interior coop room will be built internal to a shed.
No light at all coming in no windows.

If no light is able to come in, I suggest double-checking about ventilation.
Most of the easy ways to move enough air would also let in quite a bit of light.

A common guideline calls for 1 square foot of ventilation per chicken. So for 20 chickens, that would be 20 square feet of ventilation. That's a foot-high space along 20 feet of walls, or two good-sized windows, or some similar amount.

That guideline is meant for cold and moderate climates, with hot climates needing even more ventilation than that.

Also, that is assuming the ventilation openings go directly to outdoors. If the air must pass through some kind of tube, or under a roof, or over another section of building, you might need more area yet, or a fan to help it move.

I agree the light is a good idea. No amount of openings will give the chickens light when the sun is down (like on short winter days.) I'm just pointing out the ventilation issue now, because many things are easier if you plan for them before you finish building.

 

[3KillerBs]

Interior coop room will be built internal to a shed.
No light at all coming in no windows.

I agree with @NatJ.

There is nothing whatsoever more critical for a chicken's health than an abundance of fresh air. This is just as important in a cold climate as a hot one.

If no light penetrates then the chances of sufficient airFLOW are slim -- unless you're using artificial, mechanical means of ventilation such as are used in commercial broiler houses.

If my mother's stories of living in Minnesota before I was born are true then you have both HOT summers and COLD winters to deal with. Here are two good articles for you on the two extremes:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

 

[HensInTheForest]

I agree with @NatJ.

There is nothing whatsoever more critical for a chicken's health than an abundance of fresh air. This is just as important in a cold climate as a hot one.

If no light penetrates then the chances of sufficient airFLOW are slim -- unless you're using artificial, mechanical means of ventilation such as are used in commercial broiler houses.

If my mother's stories of living in Minnesota before I was born are true then you have both HOT summers and COLD winters to deal with. Here are two good articles for you on the two extremes:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

Thanks so much!! I sent my Hubbie this exact drawing 2 weeks ago. I will check out the articles and forward those to him as well.

I am so tempted to say um hey can you just rip open the back wall to the run for a huge vent up high for them all and hardware cloth it both sides, but alas - not my project.

Also trying to save not spend and working with what we already have. Exterior Shed wall is cement board but the wall opposite he will have to install new so could do a large vent on that side too for cross ventilation.

I will attempt to work that into a convo this week.

So helpful thank you!!

 

[HensInTheForest]

If no light is able to come in, I suggest double-checking about ventilation.
Most of the easy ways to move enough air would also let in quite a bit of light.

A common guideline calls for 1 square foot of ventilation per chicken. So for 20 chickens, that would be 20 square feet of ventilation. That's a foot-high space along 20 feet of walls, or two good-sized windows, or some similar amount.

That guideline is meant for cold and moderate climates, with hot climates needing even more ventilation than that.

Also, that is assuming the ventilation openings go directly to outdoors. If the air must pass through some kind of tube, or under a roof, or over another section of building, you might need more area yet, or a fan to help it move.

I agree the light is a good idea. No amount of openings will give the chickens light when the sun is down (like on short winter days.) I'm just pointing out the ventilation issue now, because many things are easier if you plan for them before you finish building.

Thanks Nat!!
We will be talking coop design this week and I will bring this up.

He has seen this sketch and has some ideas.
I would rather do this as best we can the first time and the more advice the better.

 

[3KillerBs]

Also trying to save not spend and working with what we already have.

If you don't mind the look, I used scrap pieces of metal siding to make awnings for the vents on my brooder: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-to-outdoor-brooder-conversion.76634/

Top-hinged windows are probably the most cost-effective because they are their own awnings against the weather.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/window-support-for-top-hinged-windows.74810/