advice on insulating, and or venting my coop

[Fred's Hens]

So a 4' x 4' opening (16 sq ft) for 16 birds is what you recommend?

I think you misstated something.

Not really. The openings should add up to a certain square footage of vent. (think exhaust pipe) If you had two or three 14" roof vents that allow the warm, moist, gaseous fumes to escape, you'd be just fine. We don't have roof vents, although we could easily install them. We just left the eaves open at the bottom and at the top and natural convection or air moves through just fine.

 

[proudchickiemom]

The roof for nesting boxes aree angled so steep that there is no way they would be able to sleep on top of them....the amount of nesting boxes was my husbands idea...he wanted to be sure they all be able to get in there and lay when then wanted to. Im not worried about serious predators during the day...it would just be cats and other birds. They will locked up in their coop at night, and the raccoons and possums wont be able to get in the coop. I thought that 1 sq. of venting per chicken was a little exccesive...any other thoughts then on how we should plan our roof vents? how many? we were think3 or 4. its not a huge area, so I dont think that we need a ton. the space is 120 sq ft.

 

[Fred's Hens]

A couple of these, or similar, should do the trick. Regular old roof vents. The come in a variety of styles, shapes and color of metal. Most these type of "mushroom" roof vents are about $15 or less at most any hardware store, lumber yard, home center near you.

http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...tion/slant-back-metal-roof-vent/p-1405524.htm

 

[proudchickiemom]

My husband already planned on getting roof vents, (and he knows the kind, he roofed for 6 years, and still does on occasion) we just werent sure about how many to put in...We have a good idea now, thanks to Fred's Hens


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[Ridgerunner]

Do you get enough snow that those might get blocked? Your husband should know about what kind to get for that.

 

[proudchickiemom]

We dont hardly ever get snow here. If we do, it is only an inch or two, and it is usually gone before noon. Im NOT worried that we will get the wrong kind of vents, like I said, I just wanted to to be sure that it would be enough ventilation. We dont ever have really cold harsh winters hear. they are fairly mild, never dropping below the 30's, and if it does, it only happens once or twice. I was more worried about humidity being trapped inside the coop