Chicken Coop Size

[3KillerBs]

P.S. Where I live now and where I used to live in Delaware even moreso, there are hundreds of thousands of broiler houses -- older and newer, in different styles. All with fans constantly humming and air constantly moving.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Not the article I was thinking of, but the message is the same - just illustrations, not photos.

BEGIN at Page 14

 

[U_Stormcrow]

P.S. Where I live now and where I used to live in Delaware even moreso, there are hundreds of thousands of broiler houses -- older and newer, in different styles. All with fans constantly humming and air constantly moving.

and where I am in Hot, Humid FL, most of ours look like huge quonset huts with monster fans at either end - some with windows down the sides.

The fans aren't running, though. They are almost all out of business. Same is true if I drive North into Alabama, or North and East into that corner of GA. Maybe they will be spun back up soon, though many are in really rough shape.

 

[3KillerBs]

and where I am in Hot, Humid FL, most of ours look like huge quonset huts with monster fans at either end - some with windows down the sides.

The fans aren't running, though. They are almost all out of business. Same is true if I drive North into Alabama, or North and East into that corner of GA. Maybe they will be spun back up soon, though many are in really rough shape.

I understand that profits have been falling for the big chicken companies' contractors (we know a couple causally), and that some have gotten out of the business because of that.

 

[Capto Veritas]

and with the sliding door closed, where is this ventilation you speak of???

A chicken coop needs ventilation like a bathroom in a human home while the tub is in use, not a bedroom - and unlike our houses, there aren't tens of thousands of cubic feet of air to be circulated about to reduce concentrated humidity and ammonia levels. Your coop is measured in inches - its total air volume looks to be less than 15-20 cu ft. That air volume needs to be rapidly turned over for the health of your birds, which is why the free ventilation recommendations on chicken coops are so high.

I appreciate your desire to minimize the deficiencies of your purchase - you didn't know better, and the manufacturer sure isn't advertising the issues. Its a very attractive coop.

There's a reason commercial coops have fans on the end and look like this:
View attachment 2692506
Those birds actually have more ventilation than you are offering, more total air volume, yet workers in these plants need n95 particulate filters, sometimes respirators, and often chemical gloves and aprons while working inside. Highlights form an employment ad for poultry work in your State (Tyson Foods):

Biosecurity/Animal Welfare:
• The jobsite is a biosecure environment which requires showering, changing clothing and footwear before entering the facility. Appropriate clothing and footwear is provided by the Company. No jewelry may be worn on the jobsite except for medical ID jewelry and body piercings covered by appropriate clothing. Must be willing to sign an agreement to avoid any avian species (chickens, ducks, birds, etc.). Must be willing to sign and abide by the Company Biosecurity and Company Animal Welfare Guidelines.

• Environment: Required to work on wet, slippery surfaces and work in hot, dry, extreme dusty, dark, wet, icy, snowy and cold environments.
• Personal Protective Equipment Required: Safety glasses, safety goggles, face shield, chemical gloves, waterproof aprons, and rubber boots are required. Ear plugs will be used as required. NIOSH approved N95 particulate respirators will be worn as needed. A respirator is required for formaldehyde application. • Chemicals Commonly Used: Disinfectants such as Synergize, Lysol, bleach, insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides, formaldehyde, etc.

Well, I leave the sliding door cracked open so it is ventilated.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Well, I leave the sliding door cracked open so it is ventilated.

I hope that experience is not too cruel a teacher - but know that however much it pains you, it will hurt your birds worse.

I'm done here. Good fortune to you on your chicken journey, your flock will need it.

 

[3KillerBs]

Well, I leave the sliding door cracked open so it is ventilated.

"Cracked" implies square inches. You need square feet.

 

[NatJ]

Well, I leave the sliding door cracked open so it is ventilated.

Is it safe to leave the sliding door completely open? That would allow a lot more air to move in and out.

 

[Wyndsong]

I'm not going to pile on - OP has already received great advice.

@Wyndsong normally someone might discourage thread hijacking (which I unconsciously do all the damned time), but short answer is that you have a mild winter climate, leave all the openings open, and that's tolerable for two birds to sleep in overnight except when you get terrible weather (the wet with high winds type, not cold. Fully feathered well adjusted birds can easily take MUCH colder temps than TX will ever see, as long as they are protected from drafts and their roost is well ventilated.

Among all the other problems with that coop design is the fact that the limited ventilation it does provide also virtually guarantees drafts on the birds.

Look to open air coop designs in your climate as you consider the next stage in your chicken journey. OP should do the same.

I wasn't meaning to hijack just add to it. But I can see how it could easily hijack it. Sorry OP!

We are planning to add ventilation to the house. We'll probably add slim windows near the top covered by hardware cloth. Were also going to put the entire coop on some treated wood on the bottom and add a skirt of hardware cloth to surround the coop. Them we also are going to add some stakes to the bottom to keep it from being able to be tipped over by predators. Its definitely temporary. Although maybe we'll use it for future chicks that are between brooder and introduction to the flock... Or as a broody hen / quarantine house.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Best way to add some ventilation to a coop like this is to open up as much of the wall facing into the mini run area as possible, replacing the wood with wire. The roof should help provide some weather protection without you having to add on or modify anything else.