Adequate ventilation?

[llmadigan]

My coop is a converted tool shed. It's about 8ft wide by 12 or so feet long and is 7ft high at the peak. The back half is partitioned off for the girls and the front half is used for storage.

I have two return air vents that are 10"x14" at the front and back.

As you can see here, the roof comes down pretty low on the sides. If I put vents along the sides, the wind would blow directly on the birds.

This is the rear vent from the inside.

In the summer, the front doors are open all day long. I'm not worried much about warm weather ventilation. But when winter rolls around, I'm afraid this won't be enough. I don't know where or how to add more.

Here's the run - 6'x12'

With a compost pile in the back

I have some corrugated tin panels coming soon that I'll put up for roofing. These pictures were taken at noon, which is the only time of day when there is no shade in the run. Otherwise it's always partially to fully shaded. Also, it's right up against the woods and in a few more weeks the trees will be providing much more shade. But the inside of the coop is shady and breezy all day, so that's where they lounge at noon.

So, what do you think? I'm soooo not a carpenter, so the idea of putting in roof top vents screams leaks to me. Any ideas??

Thanks!

 

[llmadigan]

I forgot to mention - I have 6 pullets

These were taken just a week ago. The trees are so much greener now!!

 

[llmadigan]

Please?? Any input??

 

[Chickendigger]

Could you replace the vent with a window that can be opened/closedor partially opened to control air? I did similar with a 10x14 shed, mine has two vents up toward the top, a window, the chicken door (low to the ground), then the double man doors which I can leave open. I'm not sure though I'll even get enough air movement in the really hot days so I'm thinking about running a fan to help...

 

[llmadigan]

Thanks for your reply, Chickendigger. I could put a piece of wood hanging on hinges if I wanted to be able to close them up. And I've already thought that they might need a fan come August. But I've read that we need a square foot of ventilation per bird in the winter months to prevent frostbite. For 6 birds I have less than 2sqft of ventilation when the doors are closed. I've also read that if the coop is significantly larger than it needs to be for the number of chickens living in it, you could cut down on ventilation. But by how much??

 

[Folly's place]

I would consider adding a window with hardware cloth , large as possible, on the south and/ or east sides of the coop, or maybe a large door to the run with a large window. Can't have too much ventilation, and you can put plastic over part of the windows to block the winter winds. ary

 

[donrae]

I would consider adding a window with hardware cloth , large as possible, on the south and/ or east sides of the coop, or maybe a large door to the run with a large window. Can't have too much ventilation, and you can put plastic over part of the windows to block the winter winds. ary

Agree with this. put some windows in, just stagger them so they're not right on the roosts.

 

[GalaBoys]

You could put in a cupola or two on the roof to improve ventilation.