Checking my ventilation

[Lulu-vt]

the new chicken coop is 12x8. I have an open ridge which is about 6”. It will be covered with a ridge cap. All the eves are also open. Everything will be covered in hardware cloth.
Is this enough for ventilation? Do I need to cut gable end vents as well? I’d rather not but will if they are needed.
I have also cut a window on the back. But was going to cover it with plexiglass and use just for light. I could hinge that instead if I needed lower ventilation. I’m just worried it would be too close to their roost.

 

[DobieLover]

Do I need to cut gable end vents as well?

I would.

I’d rather not but will if they are needed.

More is always better.

I have also cut a window on the back. But was going to cover it with plexiglass and use just for light. I could hinge that instead

Top hinge it if you have short overhangs and install more than one window. You will want much more ventilation in the summer for good cross breezes.

I have windows at roost height that are open from early April to early November.

There are two more windows away from the roosts that are left cracked open during the winter for more ventilation. They are fully opened during warmer months.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Northern Vermont. Thank you for that, knowing your location helps.

Warm air rises, but only if you have cooler heavier air pushing it up. Ventilation is about air flow. In summer you want to evacuate hot air from your coop. Your ridge vent is about the best way to do that without a fan. But you need a way to get cooler air in to replace that hot air. Shade and trees or other buildings may give you a place to get cooler air from but for most of us that will be from the shady side of the coop. In the northern hemisphere like us that is on the north side of the coop. Typically air from lower down is cooler than higher up. So a low opening on your northern side to let cool air in is probably your best bet. If that doesn't work the east side is generally better than the west as the afternoon sun can get very warm.

In the winter you do not need to try to keep them warm, their down and feather coat will take care of that. You need to keep them dry. So winter ventilation is about removing excess moisture from the coop. Moisture can come from their breathing, their poop, and any thawed water source in the coop.

Warm air not only rises but it holds more moisture. Generally their breathing, poop, and thawed water is warmer than the surrounding air so that air immediately around them is generally warmer. Again, your ridge vent will give that warmer moister air a place to go. Another factor is that you do not want a cold wind blowing on the chickens while they are on the roost. So a winter opening up higher than the roosts to allow cool dry air in is a good idea. Your open eves should take care of that.

Another advantage of the eve vents is that when you have a wind blowing you should get a breeze between your eve vents. The friction form that breeze will cause turbulence and stir up the air lower in your coop.

Especially in northern Vermont I'm not convinced you actually need an opening down low. With your ridge vent and eve vents I think you'd be good to go year around. And your summers are not that warm to begin with. I'd be more concerned in your winters, but with an 8' x 12' coop I don't think you have a lot to worry about there either unless you have a lot of chickens in there.

 

[saysfaa]

Ridge vents are wonderful! But only most of the time in my snowy climate. We got the kind of ridge vent intended for snow so it isn't compressed by the weight of the snow like the other kind is. However, snow still blocks the opening when it is deep.

In your situation, I would take the wall off one side of the shed. It has worked very well for me here in a similar climate with a similar sized shed. My shed is 10x14, the chicken section is the back 10x8; only the chicken section has one side open from floor to ceiling. Well, 4' of it for 5 chickens.

I close off the eaves with pool noodles and wedge an old single pane barn window into the back window opening in the winter to make a three sided box.

The air wafts in the bottom of the open side and out the top of the open side - so slowly that I had to tie a strip of tissue onto a stick to see it. I can't feel the air movement. It is so on calm days and windy ones because the air turnover is driven only by the difference in temperature as the sun and/or chickens' breath warm the inside of the shed.