Any reason not to replace vents with hardware cloth?

[Steven Bussell]

There is nothing wrong with your vents. If you could install some on the other side to create a cross breeze you should be fine. Ventilation works better if there is some on more than one side...

 

[Toothpick]

My rain blows in from the west. I only have a tiny bit come in from that side when it storms hard. Not enough to do any damage or even get the bedding wet, though. I've had it open for over a year and no ill effects. I have a long woods style meshed window on the south side and no problems there either. Anything that comes in is more like a mist, and only during the heavy, windy rains. My meshed door is on the west side and near the bottom rain does get in. I just meshed it a couple weeks ago, and need to get a board across the bottom this week to prevent that.

Good to know. Thanks for the reply!

There is nothing wrong with your vents. If you could install some on the other side to create a cross breeze you should be fine. Ventilation works better if there is some on more than one side...

Already got it covered. Thanks!

I got about 4 vents on the other side too.

 

[aart]

Top hinged covers/windows are always a good bet for more open space while repelling rain.

 

[jthornton]

The key is when there is a breeze can you feel it inside the coop? If not the vents are not effective summer time vents.

My garden shed conversion to a coop even with 5 windows open and the door window open is hot and no breeze manages to get in due to mostly the location. I installed 2 fans above the roost to draw air from the outside and blow down on the roosts. For me it makes a huge improvement in the perceived heat inside the coop area to have a little breeze blowing on you.

In this photo I have not blocked them in to draw from the louver vent behind the fans. The roost and poop tray are below the fans.


JT

 

[Toothpick]

I don’t think the ones I have are effective any season vents. Right now they are covered with dust. I don’t feel a breeze at all in there. I’m going to swap a couple out today and see how it goes.

 

[jthornton]

In the winter time the moisture from pooping and breathing is naturally lighter than dryer air so it rises up and tries to become equal with the rest of the air up high, that's why you don't need a breeze but just a place for the moisture to escape to the outside.

JT

 

[archeryrob]

Those vents you have are forced air vents. They work under pressure and suctions would work in a heavy wind, but normal winds are not heavy. Anything you replace them will will allow it to breath in the summer more. Then in the winter they may seem like too much and need adjusting closer to closed.

A normal open window will allow much more air flow. This is the first year for this coop with the windows I showed you. I think I might close the north one completely when it gets cold and only crack the south one. I have 5 soffit vents on each side wide open that are at a minimum 12" x 3.5" to let winter moisture out.

 

[aart]

Those vents you have a forced air vents. They work under pressure and suctions

Exactly.

 

[Toothpick]

Well that explains a lot!

 

[chickens really]

All my vents are covered in hardware cloth and we don't have many bad predators to get in..