coop floor - ground or raised

[junebuggena]

Not nearly enough ventilation.

 

[Justjered]

Junebuggena,

Your welcome to provide some inciteful feedback but "not nearly enough ventilation" doesn't do much for me.

There is plenty of air transfer going on in the coop so I'm not sure I agree with your ventilation concern.

By all means if I'm misunderstanding of how much is needed, let me know what you think is a solution and I'll look into it.

 

[junebuggena]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

 

[Justjered]

Right but.

You see the 1.5" gap running across the long side of our coop. 70" long. So that's open as in and out flow.

Then our door for them to go in and out which is open ALL day long and only closed to keep them safe at night.

Also our man door has a 1/2" gap around the part where it latches, so has roughly 75" long 1/2" gap that allows air ventilation.

I don't see any issue with having plenty of air recirculating in our coop.

Maybe the pics don't show it but it's definitely not sealed shut. Anymore openings and it'd be a wind tunnel.

 

[lazy gardener]

Your ventilation totals 150 sq. inches, plus what ever the pop door is, which you say is closed at night, and in cold weather. The telling tale of whether that is enough for your flock in your coop in your climate is this: Do you ever have frost bite on combs, wattles, or toes, Is there ever any frosted condensation on the walls or any other surface in that coop. Does the air ever feel damp in there? Personally, if this were my coop, I'd put in more ventilation, perhaps a louvered vent at both peaks. My coop in zone 4 has 31 sq. FEET of ventilation. This does not include the people door or the pop door. Nor does it include any ventilation provided around several doors that are not a tight seal. One BYC contributer has suggested, and I don't doubt the logic of such a statement (in a back yard flock situation, not in a commercial poultry house situation) that you should have 1 sq. ft. of ventilation per bird. That amount could be decreased if there is mechanical ventilation. It's possible to provide ventilation without draft.

 

[Justjered]

That's a good explanation. Thanks lazy gardener.

Never had any condensation or moisture so far. I will keep an eye on it.

I guess my concern is if I'm adding vents that are able to be closed. And just close them, what's the point of having it here in the first place.

I'll look at it more this weekend and see if I have anything come up for adding another area for ventilation.

Seems like I have good flow as it is so holy cow feels like I'm just creating a wind chamber. Lol

 

[lazy gardener]

That's a good explanation. Thanks lazy gardener.

Never had any condensation or moisture so far. I will keep an eye on it.

I guess my concern is if I'm adding vents that are able to be closed. And just close them, what's the point of having it here in the first place.

I'll look at it more this weekend and see if I have anything come up for adding another area for ventilation.

Seems like I have good flow as it is so holy cow feels like I'm just creating a wind chamber. Lol

If you add vents, you can always block them off. Better, IMO to start off with too much ventilation and block off if it really becomes necessary, than to not have them in place and find out that you should have. The other question I forgot to add is this: Do you ever have any detectable odor of ammonia in your coop? If you EVER smell ammonia, the level is already too high for your bird's respiratory function. Ventilation draws ammonia up and out of the coop so it does not become a problem.

 

[aart]

Closable vents might work well most the time but need to be shut down during extreme wind/weather events.
Top hinged glass windows might be a good thing to think about......you could use some natural light in there.

Here's couple things to read about ventilation....it can be tricky, especially with small coops with low ceilings like your 3rd floor where they sleep.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048597/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts
This is a great video, tho the roost in that coop is way to close to ceiling.

Those heat lamps concern me too, very dangerous.

 

[Justjered]

Yea the heat lamp is only for a few more weeks. As we have transitioning chicks. Just want to make sure they don't get too cold since the temps dropped about 30 degrees st night here in Illinois last week.

So far no amonia smell as I clean the coop about every other day. We have 5 adult silkies and 4 older chicks in there.

And yes. That is a good video. Watched a 2 nights ago and still felt we were good as the top vents move plenty of air but hey guess the more the merrier.

 

[aart]

How old are your chicks...are they silkies too?
Can the silkies get way up to the 3rd floor to roost?