Am I planning enough ventilation?

[BeckyRK1974]

I made a trip to the builder that is making my coop today. Because of all you wonderful folks that have taken time to answer questions and post articles about ventilation, I started feeling like the standard build for my coop will be lacking. Therefore, I wanted to ask them some questions and make some changes hopefully before they got too far into building. Thankfully they haven't started yet so I could make changes.

I have attached pictures of the style I'm getting for reference. These are all from his show lot that I took while I was there this afternoon. All of them in the pics are 6' x 8', which is what I'm getting. Their standard build has 6 nesting boxes, but I asked for just 4 because I want it to open on the side rather than the top. I'm also having them put a metal roof on, and the side with 2 windows will swing open from the bottom rather than like those in the picture. He called the ones in getting awning style windows? All of this was already in the build instructions when I placed the order.

As you can see, the opposite 8' wall from the nest boxes has a reasonable sized ventilation area. It's about 12" tall. The 6' wall opposite the walk-in door has nothing except a vent in the peak (not sure if it's the right term, but I call it a gable vent).

Now for what I changed/added today... First, the gable vents in the standard design are 4" x 16". He said he can make them 8" x 16" so that's what I'm going with. There will be one on each end. Second, I asked him to put in a ridge vent on the roof.

So in summary there will be the opening on the 8' wall (opposite the nest boxes), the two 8" x 16" gable vents and the roof vent that would run the 8' length.

I'm not counting the windows because in the winter I'll have to have them closed. The roosts will be too much in line with them, and I'm assuming that's okay in summertime so I'm focused on accommodating winter.

He said they will be starting on it next week, so if I need any other adjustments to just give them a call. I would love it if some of you more experienced chicken parents could let me know if it seems like I'm covered now. Or if I should have them do more?

I'm starting with 6 baby chicks, but I'm planning to add a few more in a couple years to keep future egg production going. And everyone knows we all need to allow for chicken math!

Thank you in advance for your input!

 

[Ted Brown]

If the soffit panel under the front overhang were replaced with hardware cloth, ditto on back side you would have better ventilation up in the best area.

Even better would be to expand the roof surfaces to give you more overhang:

1. front to get you out of weather when egg fetching
2. over person door same reason
3. back to increase ventilation

 

[rosemarythyme]

The section in neon green would be the most obvious place to open up, replaced with hardware cloth, as there's an existing overhang there.

 

[BeckyRK1974]

My coop delivered on Good Friday, and I noticed they never put the long narrow window in on the one 8' side. I take partial responsibility for that because I didn't exactly specify that I wanted it. When I talked to the guy in the office, I simply asked if I could order a coop like the ones on the lot but with the nest boxes raised up about 10" to accommodate the deep bedding method. It got missed by both myself and the guy i talked to. So, I'll have to cut openings into the siding and cover them with vent grates. It sucks that I have to do that after paying $2500 for it, but it's also a relatively easy fix so I didn't bother calling the company to complain.

They also didn't give me any overhang so I won't be able to open up the soffit area as was previously suggested. But I'm not insulating above the frame of the walls on the two gable sides, so I can open that area up more if needed. I'm going to see how it goes first. I bought a thermometer with a humidity sensor, so I can monitor it fairly easy.

Aside from that, I had decided to upgrade the inside and add insulation and tile board to the walls. I also bought a scrap piece of vinyl flooring. I figured this would allow me to wash most everything if necessary without worrying about the wood.

So today my husband helped me cut and install 2x4's between the studs to block off the area we need to cut open to add vents. And my daughter came over to help me install the insulation. We had to piece together a couple spots, but it should still be alright. We got a late start on it, so that's all we got done today.

I do love that the windows above the nest boxes open upward. And with them open while insulating today, there was good air flow with the walk-in door open. So I'm sure once the vents are in on the opposing wall there will be a decent breeze with the door shut during the summer months.

I feel like I'm on the right track so far, but hoping you all can weigh in.

 

[Ted Brown]

You absolutely do NOT need insulation!

• Compete waste of time and money.
• Invitation to mice to move in and muck things up
• Your chickens will peck and spread it about unless covered (which you do not want either as mice will move in and you won't know it).
• May further decrease ventilation which is the worst thing you can do.
• Get rid of it!

Also, your pictures make it difficult to see how much space will be opened up above the 2x4s. You need a minimum of 1 sq ft per bird. DO NOT WAIT DO IT NOW!

The screen material that has been used is too big! Lots of critters (rats, mice, weasels, etc. etc.) will waltz through it as if it were not there!!!). Replace or cover over with 1/2" by 1/2" hardware cloth.

Whoever built this does not know anything about building a coop.

 

[BeckyRK1974]

Your chickens will peck and spread it about unless covered

I think I had said I will be covering the insulated portion of the walls with a humidity resistant tile board. So I'm not convinced this is a concern. It is made to be washed and cleaned, and I am choosing to go that route so I can mostly disinfect the coop without ruining the integrity of the structure. I know insulation is not necessary, but I made the decision to use it after listening to perspectives from people who do and do not use it and weighing the pros and cons. It seems there is just as many northern climate chicken tenders that recommend it as there are that do not. So I decided for myself what I wanted for my coop. It is also raised up off the ground approximately 18" so the risk of mice - while not eliminated altogether - is reduced.

your pictures make it difficult to see how much space will be opened up above the 2x4s

I had put in my post that I got a late start on this yesterday, so I didn't get to everything and the vent openings are not cut out yet. There are 4 spaces between wall studs that measure 14.5" where I will be cutting out the siding. They each will be about 4" tall. The roof also has a ridge vent that is not visible in the photos, but was mentioned in my original post. I should have restated that when I posted, I guess. The coop is 8' long, and from what I can see without putting a tape measure on it, seems to be about 3" to 4" wide. And the two gable walls each have an 8"x16" vent. I am starting with 6 chicks, so based on your information of 1 sq foot per bird I should be close to covered. And I also stated that there is room above the wall frame on the gable ends to open it up more should it be needed.

The screen material that has been used is too big! Lots of critters (rats, mice, weasels, etc. etc.) will waltz through it as if it were not there!!!).

The windows are above the next boxes and are about 4' off the ground. With the coop not being in contact with the ground I'm not sure I fully agree with the concern. I very well could be wrong, but I just spoke to my neighbor yesterday that has had the same flock for two years now and she said she has not had any issues with mice, rats, weasels or any other similar type animal. She has a similar grate on the windows of her coop, so I'm feeling okay about that part.