Chicken Coop Ventilation

[merrymutts]

With this oppresively HOT weather I am in need of some ideas to promote better ventilation in my chicken coop. I have windows fore and aft and a fan blowing 24/7 and it's still hotter than H*** inside the coop. I was thinking about those turbines that one often sees on house roofs but would welcome any other ideas.

 

[Whittni]

I live in the harsh desert of southern Utah where trees and shade are scarce. It is normal to have 110*F weather and some highs of 120*F! What you need is a covered run and misters on your fan. If you are blessed with a shaded yard, misting sprinklers help a ton. You also need as many frozen treats like watermelon as possible. Your chickens need to stay hydrated so be sure to keep their waterers cool with ice!

 

[Intheswamp]

In regards to ventilation it seems the biggest effect would be from opening up more wall area...install some more windows/screens.

The more shade around the coop the better. Some tarps stretched out form the edges of the coop would create a larger shaded area.

What type of roof does your coop have? If it's metal, putting some rigid foam insulation between it and the chickens will help stop so much radiant heat from raining down on the chickens. Even a tarp thrown *over* the roof can help.

What Whit recommended about the misters is a biggie!!!! Evaporative cooling works wonders!!!!

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[aart]

With this oppresively HOT weather I am in need of some ideas to promote better ventilation in my chicken coop. I have windows fore and aft and a fan blowing 24/7 and it's still hotter than H*** inside the coop. I was thinking about those turbines that one often sees on house roofs but would welcome any other ideas.

How about some pics of your coop, and tell us your location, so we can give some specific suggestions?

 

[merrymutts]

Here are some photos...the Juvenile side is not being used right now as it faces WEST. All birds, for the time being use the backside which faces EAST and it's also blessed with sun in the morning and shade nearly all afternoon long.

I did order the mister which was recommended and I know it'll help the girls feel better. I also make the veggie ice and plain ice rings for them to enjoy and there are several waterers in the pen.

This is the adult (back ) side (left ) which is the only one in use right now. The coop is a remade 9' x 12' wood storage shed. The front and the back each have a window with screen. The photo on right is the Juvenile side...not in use now.

 

[merrymutts]

OH...I live in South Central Missouri...near Ft Leonard Wood military base.

 

[aart]

It doesn't look like there are any windows in the shed...and those style roofs leave little place for eave venting.
Are there any vents on the ends...I assume yes, that's what you meant by 'fore and aft'?
A roof turbine might help some...but it's pretty hard to make a coop cooler than it is outside without any shade.

 

[Intheswamp]

I'd be getting some tarps, old sheets, cardboard, whatever you could come up with and covering the top of the run with it. Just getting some shade in there will help...you could even set up an outside roost for them if you don't lock them up each night. Those mostly solid walls aren't helping...get some windows in there to at least let some breeze blow through. Don't set the misters inside the coop unless you have LOTS of ventilation...put them out in the run.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[JackE]

Those mini-barns need a lot of work, to be made into proper coops. They are too closed up. Get your saw out, and start cutting. First, cut the side walls out between each stud, from where the wall meets the roof, to about 6"s off the floor. Install hardware cloth over the new openings. Then, take the wall sections you just cut and add 1X3" lumber around the inside edges. to stiffen up the panels. Then add hinges to the top of each wall section, and reinstall. During the warmer month, really most of the year, prop open the wall sections, for max fresh air flow/ventilation. Then, cut some big openings, at each end, up by roof peaks. Gotta get some fresh air in there. Depending on the temp, it still may get warm (Hot) in there, but at least the birds will not have stinky stale air to contend with.

 

[aart]

I've seen these barns modified to create open eaves by extending all 4 roof planes and creating eaves under each extended edge.