Can I put a fan in my chickens coop?

[Theladiesandagentleman]

I have solar fans up in the ventilation areas, which blow onto frozen water bottles. This moves cool air through the coop but does not blow directly on them. They are only in their coop at night and I want to cool it down as much as possible so they can recover from the heat of the day. It's going to be 104 here today so I will be on frozen fruit, ice cube, cooling pad patrol all day.

 

[Creteloc]

Where did you find a solar powered ceiling fan? That's a great idea.

I bought the stuff off of Amazon. It's just a fan with 2 wires hanging off of it and a Solar panel to match the amps and wattage with gator clips that I clipped to the hanging wires. Not very technical because I'm definitely not an electrician!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=solar+powered+attic+fan

 

[adrikeen]

Ice water may not kill them but water that is too cold can constrict the capillaries. A poultry nutrition doctor told me that in our conversation.
I freeze small water bottles and drop one in each fount of cool water when it is above 95F. That keeps the water palatable in the afternoon as long as it is in the shade.
I put a frozen bottle in the footbaths too.

I was going to suggest just that but you beat me to it. This is exactly what I do and I haven't had a problem. I had to remind hubby to stop recycling the water bottles....I need 'em now!

Hubby had a shop fan in the garage that wasn't in use, so I've put that on the deck to blow down and across the coop/run. It just can't stay outdoors. Anyway, hens freaked out, obviously at first, but then realized it felt good. I took Aart's plan and put the fan on the shaded side of the coop. I saw several hens pulling a Marilyn Monroe move today.

 

[llombardo]

I bought a battery operated tent fan online today. I should get it soon. Hopefully it will be just enough. The blades are rubber so it can't hurt anyone.

 

[Jonidoodle]

I have fans in all 4 of my coops ordered box fans from Walmart the chicken dust is hard on them but you get at least a summer out of them. The chickens just love it once they know your not going to kill them with the big new creepy thing.

How did you mount them? Should I put it in the run facing the coop? I have the coop door they go in by and a window on both sides of the coop plus 4 ft of one in holes for venting on the 3 ft side of the coop. Would that work with the fan facing the coop attached on run wall about level with the coop? Thanks for any ideas.

 

[Arok327]

My coop(shed) is about 80-82 degrees at night I have 1 small window that I put a double window fan in I’m blowing it to outside I have 8 adults and 18-3 months olds the coop/shed is 10x12.also has 2 small vent on top opposite sides. Is the temp too hot in there for them at night? They only sleep in there and lay their eggs, during the day they free range my property. TIA for any help.

 

[aart]

My coop(shed) is about 80-82 degrees at night I have 1 small window that I put a double window fan in I’m blowing it to outside I have 8 adults and 18-3 months olds the coop/shed is 10x12.also has 2 small vent on top opposite sides. Is the temp too hot in there for them at night? They only sleep in there and lay their eggs, during the day they free range my property. TIA for any help.

80-82 is not bad IME, they may still be panting tho.
Better to have your fan blowing cooler air from the outside to the inside.
It will cool the coop quicker and also avoid filling the fan parts with chicken dust which could be a fire hazard.
Of course if the air outside the coop is not cooler than the inside, don't bother with a fan.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Better to have your fan blowing cooler air from the outside to the inside.

True, but fan needs to be protected from rain.
I reverse my window fan to blow outside during rainy weather. GC

 

[aart]

True, but fan needs to be protected from rain.
I reverse my window fan to blow outside during rainy weather. GC

Thought that went without saying, but of course.
That's where top hinged windows really pay off.