Coop too hot

[Newbie102]

We built a hoop coop and I placed a thermometer inside to keep track of the temp. The coop is covered with a large white tarp. The temperature has been 10+ degrees hotter inside the coop than outside despite having a solar fan setup. I panicked and we removed the tarp and tried putting ground cloth instead and the temp got up to 116 degrees inside the coop! The outside temp was 104 degrees. I had let them out to free range in the tree shade due to the heat. I panicked again and removed the cloth and was going to get some shade cloth, but that really won’t protect the coop/run from sudden thunderstorms. For right now we put up an old pop up tent to shade the coop from sun and rain. I was hoping the white tarp would reflect the heat more, but it just seemed to trap the heat in. What is the best option to cover the coop and protect from sun/heat/rain? Would shade cloth do the job? We do plan on using the tarp again during the winter months.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I would try shade cloth on the sunny half of the coop and open the other half up but switch from chicken wire to hardware cloth.

 

[Newbie102]

It is covered in 1/2” hardware cloth.

I would try shade cloth on the sunny half of the coop and open the other half up but switch from chicken wire to hardware cloth.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I would take half of that off. Where are you located? Is your climate very humid?

 

[Airyaman]

With both ends being open that little fan is basically doing nothing for the heat in your coop. In order for an exhaust fan to pull any real air it needs a bit of negative pressure and controlled input vents which you will not have with open ends. Better to place a barn fan at ground level and blow across the coop to help keep the chickens cool. Of course if you can't get power to the coop that might not be an option.

Have you tried a combo setting of photos #1 and #3? I assume #3 gives more shade and #1 gives rain protection, so combine them for both.

 

[Newbie102]

In Oregon, so not a lot of humidity. I have 1 small fan in the back bottom blowing air into the coop and the other small fan at the front top sucking it out. Or at least that is what we were trying. I also had a box fan blowing into the coop from the back bottom, since it is shady at the back due to the fence. But maybe the fence is blocking some air flow. I will just try to have them out free ranging when it gets really hot, but I can not always be home to keep an eye on them. We do have hawks, neighbor cats, a raccoon has come through as well as a possum and a fox despite living in a suburb. I just wasn’t sure if shade cloth would really make a difference or would keep the rain out.