ChickadeeBee
In the Brooder
Hello BYC! Been gathering lots of great info from here for a while, and this is finally the year my chicken owning dreams are becoming reality!
I’m in the early stages of building my coop, and would be grateful for advice from those more experienced than myself regarding window + ventilation placement, and anything else you might suggest. The floor has been built but I’m hoping to avoid any regrets before I go further! I currently have week old babies in a large indoor brooder
Below is info on what I am planning, but please tell me if I should change anything!
This will be a 6x8’ coop, housing 5-7 chickens (though who knows if that will grow!). Breed is Sapphire Gem, I’ve been told they are as hardy as Plymouth Rocks. I’m in MA- temps average 80F summer, 20F winter, with extremes of 90F / 0F.
Coop will be in sun from around 11:30am-5pm. Run will be covered for shade and I’m planting a dwarf mulberry tree in front for future shade and chicken treats.
I’m planning to insulate the coop with foam board insulation in walls between plywood sheets, and already have fiberglass insulation in the floor. Not planning to artificially heat the coop so they are acclimated to the winter if we lose power. I’ve also planned the nest boxes to be inside the coop, rather than bumped out, to keep them warmer (door access from outside still). Coop bedding will be 3-4” deep construction sand.
I’ve mocked up my rough ideas in google sketchup and attached some screenshots. Pictures explain things better, but I’m thinking a window on the east + west side for cross breeze in summer + light. Gable vent on north + south walls. Small vents under roof overhang on east+west sides. (The door faces south, for reference)
What I really need help figuring out is that sweet spot where ventilation doesn’t become a draft. How can I properly vent the coop in winter without rendering the insulation useless? (& is the foam board insulation overkill?) Do I have enough ventilation for the summer heat? I would like to maybe put another window or at least glass pane to let light in, but not sure if that would render the insulation useless unless I got double-paned.
Thank you for any help!!
I’m in the early stages of building my coop, and would be grateful for advice from those more experienced than myself regarding window + ventilation placement, and anything else you might suggest. The floor has been built but I’m hoping to avoid any regrets before I go further! I currently have week old babies in a large indoor brooder

Below is info on what I am planning, but please tell me if I should change anything!
This will be a 6x8’ coop, housing 5-7 chickens (though who knows if that will grow!). Breed is Sapphire Gem, I’ve been told they are as hardy as Plymouth Rocks. I’m in MA- temps average 80F summer, 20F winter, with extremes of 90F / 0F.
Coop will be in sun from around 11:30am-5pm. Run will be covered for shade and I’m planting a dwarf mulberry tree in front for future shade and chicken treats.
I’m planning to insulate the coop with foam board insulation in walls between plywood sheets, and already have fiberglass insulation in the floor. Not planning to artificially heat the coop so they are acclimated to the winter if we lose power. I’ve also planned the nest boxes to be inside the coop, rather than bumped out, to keep them warmer (door access from outside still). Coop bedding will be 3-4” deep construction sand.
I’ve mocked up my rough ideas in google sketchup and attached some screenshots. Pictures explain things better, but I’m thinking a window on the east + west side for cross breeze in summer + light. Gable vent on north + south walls. Small vents under roof overhang on east+west sides. (The door faces south, for reference)
What I really need help figuring out is that sweet spot where ventilation doesn’t become a draft. How can I properly vent the coop in winter without rendering the insulation useless? (& is the foam board insulation overkill?) Do I have enough ventilation for the summer heat? I would like to maybe put another window or at least glass pane to let light in, but not sure if that would render the insulation useless unless I got double-paned.
Thank you for any help!!