Coop Condensation

[Ol Grey Mare]

What direction to your prevailing winds travel? You may be able to open up significant ventilation along the top sides dependent on that

 

[nathansl2003]

Attached are pictures of the 2 vents that the unit has, the window, the outside eve above the nesting box and the inside construction of the overhang eve (along with a finger). From what I see probably not able to vent the overhang. As somebody suggested I can hardware cloth the window and open it up for air. during snowstorms and high wind I can lower the window to just a crack perhaps.

Also, I am still open to suggestions on how you guys put your food/water outside and protect it. I would probably prefer them outside.

 

[nathansl2003]

Grey Mare, you are correct, the coop will be outside the run eventually. I was late building the run and did not have time to build the extension to run from the coop door. That is on my project plan. The space underneath the coop is used a lot by the chickens, they love it under there. They can sit and peck there when it is raining and snowing and they watch me doing things in the yard and the kids playing.

EDIT: Grey Mare, maybe instead of building an extension, I can just drop a wall, move the coop out, put the wall back up and cut the hardware cloth and somehow build the coop into the wall. Maybe that would be faster than building an extension and relatively easy to do, the corners of the walls are all screwed in so easy to take off.

 

[paneubert]

Grey Mare, maybe instead of building an extension, I can just drop a wall, move the coop out, put the wall back up and cut the hardware cloth and somehow build the coop into the wall. Maybe that would be faster than building an extension and relatively easy to do, the corners of the walls are all screwed in so easy to take off.

I think that is what most people are suggesting. At least what I was envisioning. Use the coop wall as part of the run wall. Then you have more space to put the food and water in the run. Although you seem to be saying that the coop is already elevated off the ground and they can get under there to hang out? Could you put the food and water under there? When you move the coop "outside" the run, maybe consider lofting it even more so that they can still hang out underneath. Even if it is only a total of 18 inches or 2 feet. Will mean you need to predator proof around the "Skirt" of the elevated coop, but would give them a dry area to hang out in. And if you kept the food and water under the coop with a little access door, it would be easy to refill/clean without needing to step foot in the coop or run.

 

[jreardon1918]

I agree that more ventilation is needed. I would open the window.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I have the large overEZ coop. There is not enough ventilation. I covered my windows with 1/2 inch hardware cloth. I leave one window open all the time, the minimum amount. . I also put the coop on 8 inch cement blocks so chickens can go under the coop. . The coop is inside a 10' x 10" covered dog kennel.
I keep feed and water inside. Never had condensation on ceiling. But if yours had snow on the roof you will have condensation on ceiling if outside temps and humidity rise.
I have 7 pullets in mine. If you could get 6 cement blocks and level them next to the coop legs and a couple of strong bars wider than the coop and 4 strong guys, you could raise the coop without having to disassemble. Wishing you the best. GC

 

[RoosterML]

Venting the Eve's could be done but would require alittle to much work maybe. How about increasing your existing side wall vent sizes. In the soffit area over the nesting boxes you could add the same type of vents as in your side walls. They make those in various sizes. Install one in each rafter bay. The largest size you could go the better. Here is a picture of what I am trying to say you'll see the two round circles added to your picture. Drill the hole and install.

 

[nathansl2003]

RoosterML, thanks for the advice. Thanks everybody for input! I think I will take the following actions:

1. Hardware cloth the window so it can be opened for venting
2. Install addition vents per RosterML's suggestion
3. Move the coop outside the run, per Grey Mare's suggestion sooner than anticipated and attach the pop door side of the coop to the run
4. Build a covered area after coop is out for food/water to give more space to the chickens inside the coop

I think that about does it. Any other suggestions I am open!

Thanks all!

 

[aart]

You've gotten excellent advice....and are taking it in well.
Dontcha wish a week long thaw would come around to facilitate the changes?
Best of cLuck to yas!

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