I wanted to clarify the following diagram to ensure consistency with Woods' book.
As I understand the philosophy of Woods' design the purpose of both the depth vs width of the coop & size ratio of front vs back sections coupled with closing of monitor and side windows during winter is to create an "air cushion" in the back section. The result is that incoming air does not enter the back section rather is reflected back along the top of the front section to exit through the front. In doing so it also extracts the humidity created by waste and breathing of birds on the roosts located at the back of the coop.
The diagram, as currently shown, indicates incoming cold air passing underneath the roosts and rising thus creating drafts on the birds. This is what one needs to avoid in designing a well ventilated coop. In addition, if one uses drop boards it would block air flow as depicted in the diagram.
The diagram should be modified to "show" the air cushion with the flow arrows moved forward to illustrate the air curling back at the monitor window location.
There are a number of comments in posts herein describing how this works where a candle or light length of paper is held in the back section to test whether there is any movement; these posts state that no movement is evident.
This is taken from page 80 of Prince Woods' book "Modern Fresh Air Poultry Houses" 1924 Edition:
As I understand the philosophy of Woods' design the purpose of both the depth vs width of the coop & size ratio of front vs back sections coupled with closing of monitor and side windows during winter is to create an "air cushion" in the back section. The result is that incoming air does not enter the back section rather is reflected back along the top of the front section to exit through the front. In doing so it also extracts the humidity created by waste and breathing of birds on the roosts located at the back of the coop.
The diagram, as currently shown, indicates incoming cold air passing underneath the roosts and rising thus creating drafts on the birds. This is what one needs to avoid in designing a well ventilated coop. In addition, if one uses drop boards it would block air flow as depicted in the diagram.
The diagram should be modified to "show" the air cushion with the flow arrows moved forward to illustrate the air curling back at the monitor window location.
There are a number of comments in posts herein describing how this works where a candle or light length of paper is held in the back section to test whether there is any movement; these posts state that no movement is evident.
This is taken from page 80 of Prince Woods' book "Modern Fresh Air Poultry Houses" 1924 Edition:
