Ceiling fan in coop

[unbaked pegga]

I have a coop with a pitched roof and I think the chickens could benefit from a ceiling fan at night during the hot humid summers here. There is not enough room for a traditional ceiling fan, and I wondered if I could use like a small exhaust fan or like you would use in your bathroom? I have a couple of months before I have to worry about that, but if anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it

 

[enrgizerbunny]

On this forum, I believe the term "proper ventilation" defines the ability of warm moist air to naturally rise and exit the coop without placing a draft directly upon the birds.

Even a $15 bathroom fan will move about 50 CFM.

[COLOR=333333]If the concern is about temperature, and [/COLOR]If your coop was 10x10x8, or about 800 cubic feet, the fan could replace all the volume of air inside with outside air temperature, in about 16 minutes...

I had similar concerns during my summer heat spells.

My solution was to install a big window and keep it open when the conditions are a concern ( late spring through early fall :/  ).

Fans can disrupt the natural flow of things just as easily as they can enhance it. Bathroom fans use negative pressure.

A fan up high will help move the hot air much better than one down low.

The original concern seemed to be temperature during "hot, humid summers" and I'm standing by shade cloth or a second roof. While humidity holds heat in the air, it also allows for a cool breeze. However, the sunlight on the coop only adds heat to a structure filed with hot air. Single sided reflective material (think space blanket) under the roof facing upward would help keep the heat down as well, and could be flipped during the winter.

There are three types of heat transfer: conduction (physically touching an object of greater temperature), convection (heated air), and radiation. Little can be done for convection in humid air, but conduction can be reduced by reducing radiant heat from the sun, which reduces convection slightly inside as well.


Bottom line: There are so many ways to skin this cat and I'm just offering my two cents.

 

[RPClark]

Well, if it was me, and I wanted to install some ventilation, I think I'd install a regular vent fan to exhaust air to the outside from up high in the coop, and draw cooler fresh air in from below. I recommend using the proper rated fan in this instance. Cheap bathroom fans aren't rated for exposure to the elements.

I'd also evaluate having the fan automatically controlled so that it only comes at the times you choose or at the temperature range you desire. The devices for controlling this can be found on Amazon.

 

[unbaked pegga]

Well thank you! That is good to know. There is a vent on either side so I can put a small one there. I am going to Amazon right now

 

[aart]

Make sure you get something rated for dusty environments if you're going to exhaust air from the coop.

 

[RonP]

I think it best to install the fan blowing fresh clean air into the coop to avoid the dust issue.

 

[aart]

I think it best to install the fan blowing fresh clean air into the coop to avoid the dust issue.

Was thinking that....
....best to mount fan on east side of coop to blow cooler air into coop starting in afternoon, even better if east side of coop is shaded by trees like mine is.

 

[RPClark]

Well, not to be contrary, but..........

Fans up high should be facing out to exhaust the warm air outside. The warm air inside the coop will be drawn upward by the fan blowing outward from the interior to the exterior. The cooler air flows in from the bottom to replace the warm air pulled out of the upper end of the coop. Same principle as an attic fan in a house.

Dust is going to move around anyway and a seasonal cleaning of the fan (and vents) is going to be a good idea.

 

[aart]

Well, not to be contrary, but..........

Fans up high should be facing out to exhaust the warm air outside. The warm air inside the coop will be drawn upward by the fan blowing outward from the interior to the exterior. The cooler air flows in from the bottom to replace the warm air pulled out of the upper end of the coop. Same principle as an attic fan in a house.

Dust is going to move around anyway and a seasonal cleaning of the fan (and vents) is going to be a good idea.

Yeahbut...much less dust on fan if blowing in than out...... nope, not quite as effective but it does work.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

Unless your fan is rated for positive pressure, it will be more effective to use negative pressure at the top of the coop and draw the air out rather than pushing the air in.