Do I have enough ventilation?

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Peep Peeper

Peep Peeper

In the Brooder
6 Years
May 25, 2013
29
4
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Here's a pic of my coop. I was just going to leave the tops of the 2 windows cracked a few inches on each side throughout the winter. I have 6 hens in there now and plan to add a few more in the spring. Are the 2 windows enough ventilation or do I need to add more?
400
 
How high are your roosts? You need ventilation above their heads. My roosts are about 4' and 5' above the floor, and while I have 5 windows that I use for ventilation depending on the weather and temperature, I created some ventilation in the gable ends also. From your pic, it looks like you could do the same. I used a hole saw to cut the circles and then placed hardware cloth over the circles from the inside of the coop. These vents are about 7.5' above the floor.

 
Kind of hard to tell from your picture. Are there windows or vents on any of the other sides? Do you leave the pop door open at night? Do you have a ridge vent on the roof? Any gable vents? How tightly sealed is the door?


Seriously, with the two windows, the pop door and the human door that has some space around it, I think your good. Just keep an eye on it throughout the season, and if you see any moisture build up (look for frost on the bedding and condensation on the inside of the windows) than put in some more venting. Don't over think it and keep it simple.

PS. cute coop
 
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I didn't plan to leave the pop door open because I thought that would be too drafty since it's below their roost. The roosting bar we have is only about 6" off the floor. That's just how it was in the coop plans. Should we have a higher one? I like the idea of drilling some holes in the gable. We don't have windows on the other side. It's just a wall. I was also thinking of cutting an opening in the top of the back wall, but I wasn't sure how long and how wide to make it.
 
I bought a cheap thermostat and it keeps telling me I've got too much humidity in the coop. Thankfully my coop shares a wall with my garage so I'm going to drill some holes in that wall above the roosts. I'm glad I wont have to worry about rain/snow coming in. Do you have a thermostat? Easy way to keep an eye on it.
 
Peep Peeper said:
I didn't plan to leave the pop door open because I thought that would be too drafty since it's below their roost. The roosting bar we have is only about 6" off the floor. That's just how it was in the coop plans. Should we have a higher one? I like the idea of drilling some holes in the gable. We don't have windows on the other side. It's just a wall. I was also thinking of cutting an opening in the top of the back wall, but I wasn't sure how long and how wide to make it.
Click to expand...
Much higher. Most chickens like to sleep as high as possible and will go to the highest point. If the roost is 6" off the floor I can guarantee the chickens will be sleeping in the nest boxes. Think washing poopy eggs every day.

ChirpyChicks1 said:
I bought a cheap thermostat and it keeps telling me I've got too much humidity in the coop. Do you have a thermostat? Easy way to keep an eye on it.
Click to expand...
Hygrometer.
Thermostat is to control temperature.
 
ChickenCanoe said:
Much higher. Most chickens like to sleep as high as possible and will go to the highest point. If the roost is 6" off the floor I can guarantee the chickens will be sleeping in the nest boxes. Think washing poopy eggs every day.

Hygrometer.
Thermostat is to control temperature.
Click to expand...
idunno.gif
It does both
 
How high can they jump straight up? Or should I put in different height bars so they can jump from one to the next?

Every time I have ever checked on them at night they are all sleeping close together lined up on the low roosting bar. They've never pooped in the roosting boxes so far.
 
ChirpyChicks1 said:
idunno.gif
It does both
Click to expand...
Then it's a combination thermometer/hygrometer.

suffix meter = measure

suffix stat = from the greek 'statos' or standing. Thermostat is a device to control temperature like on your wall for heating and cooling or in an incubator to maintain set temp.

I do agree that measuring humidity in the coop is a great idea. In doing so I realized I needed much bigger openings.
 
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