“Well ventilated” vs. drafty

[tspataro]

Hi there! I’m almost done with my coop and am pretty proud of the build. It’s totally DIY and about 90% recycled materials from Craigslist or just from scrounging around.

As such, it’s not what you would call plumb, or square. Any tips on identifying that sweet spot between “well ventilated” and “full of drafts because none of the board lined up straight.”

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've built lots of chicken housing and I'm definitely not in the group that recommends no drafts. Every building I build has much larger open windows than the one before. I'm convinced that is the reason I've never had a respiratory illness after thousands of chickens. My last 2 buildings have huge openings covering nearly 1/3 of both east and west walls that allow the prevailing wind to blow right through at roost height.
Eliminating drafts is essential for baby chicks but not for adults.
The way I look at it, chickens can and do live in trees with no ill effects. How do you keep a draft out of a tree?
Free range chickens spend the day outside rain or shine and sometimes with extreme wind. I'd call that drafty.
I think the poultry pet class of people has perpetuated the myth of no drafts.
Red Jungle Fowl survived a millennia living with drafts. A few thousands of years of chicken husbandry didn't involve isolating chickens from 'drafts'. I don't believe there is a reason to do so now.
I don't know where you live but if you aren't in Alaska, Wyoming, northern Minnesota or similar climate, I would cut the largest holes in your walls that still makes for structural integrity and cover all openings with 1/4" or 1/2" hardware cloth. They will breath easy.

 

[aart]

Any tips on identifying that sweet spot between “well ventilated” and “full of drafts because none of the board lined up straight.”

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048597/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I am currently finishing up my diy coop from scratch. I have one decent window, two actual house vents and a roof vent so far. Like you I am hoping it is enough ventilation. Good luck!!!

 

[Baby Chick Mom]

I've built lots of chicken housing and I'm definitely not in the group that recommends no drafts. Every building I build has much larger open windows than the one before. I'm convinced that is the reason I've never had a respiratory illness after thousands of chickens. My last 2 buildings have huge openings covering nearly 1/3 of both east and west walls that allow the prevailing wind to blow right through at roost height.
Eliminating drafts is essential for baby chicks but not for adults.
The way I look at it, chickens can and do live in trees with no ill effects. How do you keep a draft out of a tree?
Free range chickens spend the day outside rain or shine and sometimes with extreme wind. I'd call that drafty.
I think the poultry pet class of people has perpetuated the myth of no drafts.
Red Jungle Fowl survived a millennia living with drafts. A few thousands of years of chicken husbandry didn't involve isolating chickens from 'drafts'. I don't believe there is a reason to do so now.
I don't know where you live but if you aren't in Alaska, Wyoming, northern Minnesota or similar climate, I would cut the largest holes in your walls that still makes for structural integrity and cover all openings with 1/4" or 1/2" hardware cloth. They will breath easy.

Very helpful points, especially the chick vs the adult chicken difference. I think we need to cut some larger openings in our coop and cover with hardware cloth of course.

 

[newtochickens78]

I've built lots of chicken housing and I'm definitely not in the group that recommends no drafts. Every building I build has much larger open windows than the one before. I'm convinced that is the reason I've never had a respiratory illness after thousands of chickens. My last 2 buildings have huge openings covering nearly 1/3 of both east and west walls that allow the prevailing wind to blow right through at roost height.
Eliminating drafts is essential for baby chicks but not for adults.
The way I look at it, chickens can and do live in trees with no ill effects. How do you keep a draft out of a tree?
Free range chickens spend the day outside rain or shine and sometimes with extreme wind. I'd call that drafty.
I think the poultry pet class of people has perpetuated the myth of no drafts.
Red Jungle Fowl survived a millennia living with drafts. A few thousands of years of chicken husbandry didn't involve isolating chickens from 'drafts'. I don't believe there is a reason to do so now.
I don't know where you live but if you aren't in Alaska, Wyoming, northern Minnesota or similar climate, I would cut the largest holes in your walls that still makes for structural integrity and cover all openings with 1/4" or 1/2" hardware cloth. They will breath easy.

Building my first coop and I’ve insulated the walls and floor. Living in Manitoba, Canada we have a very cold winter season. I’m stuck on how to appropriately ventilate my coop. I have a large window on the front that can be opened and was thinking about adding roof vents. The coop is 4x8 with a single slope roof. Any suggestions? I’ve read the number one issue is ventelation but can’t find much on the idea of roof vents.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Building my first coop and I’ve insulated the walls and floor. Living in Manitoba, Canada we have a very cold winter season. I’m stuck on how to appropriately ventilate my coop. I have a large window on the front that can be opened and was thinking about adding roof vents. The coop is 4x8 with a single slope roof. Any suggestions? I’ve read the number one issue is ventelation but can’t find much on the idea of roof vents.

The only problem I have with roof vents is that in climates like yours and mine, they are worthless with 6" of snow on them. Two of my buildings have ridge vents which I though were brilliant when I build them. Then one December day after a heavy snow I looked up there and realized they were blocked.. I would think gable vents would be more appropriate. I also have vented cupulas that I think let warmed moist air escape. Having said that, I don't think there is any substitute for huge openings on the sides of the building that allow a cross flow. Understand that cold isn't your enemy. Humidity and bad air are your enemy.
My one building with a single window has a window fan blowing into the building year round.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have a large window on the front that can be opened and was thinking about adding roof vents. The coop is 4x8 with a single slope roof. Any suggestions? I’ve read the number one issue is ventelation but can’t find much on the idea of roof vents.

The best roof area vents are somewhere immediately under the roof IMO... in either the soffit or the eaves. The roof should help protect those areas from the weather and unlike ridge vents or vent caps, the snow can't block them. Gable vents are good too though usually they're more limited in size (like 1 ft square) so you're likely to get more ventilation in under the roof line.

 

[aart]

The best roof area vents are somewhere immediately under the roof IMO... in either the soffit or the eaves.

Agrees!! (soffit and eaves same thing, I think)

My one building with a single window has a window fan blowing into the building year round.

Course MO and CAN are very different climates....tho might depend on where in CAN.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Agrees!! (soffit and eaves same thing, I think)

Isn't soffit the part that's parallel to the roof slant, directly on the underside? Under eaves to me would be the very top of the wall that's still covered by the roof overhang.

My overhang is actually pretty small (smaller than I'd recommend in most cases) so my roof line venting is under the eaves as we don't really have much soffit space to speak of.