coop design questions

[aart]

with the window being in the opening next to where your arrow is (to the left of it) and the roosts and nest boxes being on the opposite end would it be ok to leave windows open 24/7 in the winter in Mass?

Maybe.

Might depend on the weather, best to have windows that can open just a bit or more.
Only way to know if things are too drafty is to stand in the spot you are concerned with during high winds and see(feel) what it's like there.
Air movement is fine, but if it's strong enough to literally ruffle feathers of a bird on the roost than it's too much.

You're not going to want snow blowing into the coop, best to keep it as dry as possible.
Amount of 'adequate' ventilation can also depend on how you manage your water and manure. I use poop boards cleaned daily and a 'sealed' heated waterer with horizontal nipples, these cut down on the moisture and ammonia in the coop.

Tho the humidity(and temp) inside the coop is rarely lower than what it is outside the coop.

 

[junior67]

Maybe.

Might depend on the weather, best to have windows that can open just a bit or more.
Only way to know if things are too drafty is to stand in the spot you are concerned with during high winds and see(feel) what it's like there.
Air movement is fine, but if it's strong enough to literally ruffle feathers of a bird on the roost than it's too much.

You're not going to want snow blowing into the coop, best to keep it as dry as possible.
Amount of 'adequate' ventilation can also depend on how you manage your water and manure. I use poop boards cleaned daily and a 'sealed' heated waterer with horizontal nipples, these cut down on the moisture and ammonia in the coop.

Tho the humidity(and temp) inside the coop is rarely lower than what it is outside the coop.

I am doing poop boards as well. Going to do a heated nipple waterer but was planning on having it in roof covered run not coop.

Windows will be able to open and close different ants and block weather

 

[junior67]

A few pictures of the progress. Still need to cut in windows, vents, nest box hole. But it is coming along.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Plumbing and electric, I could live in that. Nice clean work.

 

[junior67]

Plumbing and electric, I could live in that. Nice clean work.

Thanks. I passed it on to my husband. He is a perfectionist and isn't happy with some parts of it but keeps telling himself it is a chicken coop so it will be ok. haahaa.

He does keep asking my 18 yr old if she wants him to build her a tiny house.

Oh and he brought up today he has some type of roof vent thing that will block out snow and rain so will be good for more ventilation.

 

[junior67]

Finally got the nest box done. Still have windows and ventilation to do. Then move onto the run so we can shingle the roofs.

 

[junior67]

I do have a question. Can a window be open and basically blowing on the chickens in the summer? We are doing matching windows to the right and left of the nest box, mainly for light and so it looks matching. the one on the right when looking at the coop will be right around chicken head height. We can either make it that it never opens so it doesn't blow on them at all or I can make it and be able to open it in the summer and seal it up tight in the winter......

 

[rosemarythyme]

Depends on how much "blowing" you're talking about. A gentle breeze, they'll probably enjoy it in the summer. Full gale force winds, not so much, regardless of season.

You probably won't know how much of a draft, if any, you'll get until you build it out. At that point you can test for drafts by going out on a typical windy day and holding something loose and lightweight (i.e. a long ribbon) at where the chickens would be sitting on the roost, to see how much air movement there is.

 

[junior67]

Depends on how much "blowing" you're talking about. A gentle breeze, they'll probably enjoy it in the summer. Full gale force winds, not so much, regardless of season.

You probably won't know how much of a draft, if any, you'll get until you build it out. At that point you can test for drafts by going out on a typical windy day and holding something loose and lightweight (i.e. a long ribbon) at where the chickens would be sitting on the roost, to see how much air movement there is.

Thanks. How do you know if it is too much air movement for a summer day? I mean if we had a storm I wouldn't have it open or our cooler summer days. But it will be like right around their head area if not lower so not even like just a tiny bit over them but right on them. I don't want them getting chilled or hurt them even in the summer when it is warm by having too much.

I still have to figure out how to add a bit more ventilation still so I have enough for 15 chickens in case I add more and struggling with that unless I leave the other 2 windows (not near the roosts open 24/7/365. Trying to figure out some roof ventilation that will work with snow and that is hard.......

 

[3KillerBs]

Trying to figure out some roof ventilation that will work with snow and that is hard.......

It's probably too late to put in a monitor at this stage, but can you add a cupola or two?