Condensation in metal shed-using as a coop

[JessRae]

Yeah, you really do need to frame with wood inside, the metal is just not strong enough and you need the wood to fasten things to.

My shed like yours, I added a double swinging door by framing with wood.

I would like to take the sliding doors off and frame it out, eventually putting an automated door of some sort but the ducks have their own enclosure within the shed. It requires someone to go let them out...all works in progress though. I never thought having chickens and ducks could break the bank but I want to take the best care of them possible lol

 

[JessRae]

I also have a shed just like that. I don't use it for chickens but I used to can vegetables in it and it would get very hot in there.

I cut two rectangular holes in each gable side and added 4 of these vents:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Air-Vent-4-in-L-White-Aluminum-Soffit-Vent/3017528

Then I added a bathroom fan with the duct going out of the back side. It does knock out some headroom though which there isn't much to start with.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Broan-4-Sone-50-CFM-White-Bathroom-Fan/1076121

Those seem really good for the price...I’ve seen threads saying to put vents at the bottom along the floor for air flow. Maybe I could use those vents there?

 

[pibb]

I see your shed is mostly shaded. Mine is mostly shaded until around 3:00pm. When direct sunlight hits mine, it heats up very fast like in the 100s.

What if you put some vents in the top and bottom. That way if the shed is heating, heat rises out of the top vents and pulls cooler air in the bottom and vice versa for cooling.

I used a cutoff wheel on a grinder to cut the holes, then siliconed and riveted the vents in.

 

[JessRae]

I see your shed is mostly shaded. Mine is mostly shaded until around 3:00pm. When direct sunlight hits mine, it heats up very fast like in the 100s.

What if you put some vents in the top and bottom. That way if the shed is heating, heat rises out of the top vents and pulls cooler air in the bottom and vice versa for cooling.

I used a cutoff wheel on a grinder to cut the holes, then siliconed and riveted the vents in.

Definitely worth a try. I’m sure the more ventilation the better, right?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Right! There is no such thing as too much ventilation.

 

[aart]

Definitely worth a try. I’m sure the more ventilation the better, right?

Right! There is no such thing as too much ventilation.

True, unless it allows blowing rain/snow into the coop and/or onto the birds
Good to have a way to close down or damper or re-direct ventilation that might create that scenario. I like top hinged windows for that reason.
I have one area that suffers from that, got a plan to implement here soon.

 

[Ted_Harrell]

Your babies should be fine down to below freezing as long as it is not moist and there are not huge drafts from outside. You need to get rid of that moisture with some exhaust ventilation of some kind, not just circulating what moist air is already in there. Good luck with your new coop and thanks for posting this question...

 

[JessRae]

True, unless it allows blowing rain/snow into the coop and/or onto the birds
Good to have a way to close down or damper or re-direct ventilation that might create that scenario. I like top hinged windows for that reason.
I have one area that suffers from that, got a plan to implement here soon.

I’m thinking of picking some of these up. Putting 2 against the back wall and one or two on each of the side walls. I’m going to take the fan out once that is done. Like I’ve stated before I keep the doors open all day while they are out and the sun does hit inside the majority of the shed.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Air-Vent-4...Hz27&cjevent=68a338b1fc3511e980cb00160a240610

 

[ChickenCanoe]

True, unless it allows blowing rain/snow into the coop and/or onto the birds
Good to have a way to close down or damper or re-direct ventilation that might create that scenario. I like top hinged windows for that reason.
....

I have considered an awning type thing on a couple buildings. However, I've had rain and snow blowing in for a few years with no issues.
Back in the '30s in an effort to cut down on huge winter losses from respiratory disease they started taking out one whole wall of poultry houses. The snow would drift right in and all of a sudden, no losses.

 

[aart]

I have considered an awning type thing on a couple buildings. However, I've had rain and snow blowing in for a few years with no issues.
Back in the '30s in an effort to cut down on huge winter losses from respiratory disease they started taking out one whole wall of poultry houses. The snow would drift right in and all of a sudden, no losses.

Yeah, well, I don't want snow and rain inside my shed.<shrugs>