coop vent question....how to add but not let rain in?

[Brooks_]

Hoping the best for you.

 

[Susan-B]

Hoping the best for you.

me too hahaha. I hoping to get something, then maybe I can get my boyfriend to just do a few really basic modifications. I'm aiming for 1ft roost space/4 sqft coop space per hen.....and then add the proper ventilation.

 

[Brooks_]

Focus on the ventilation first. And update with pics....I'm sure lots of ideas can be had.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What does that building look like under the corrugations at the peak and low end? You may already have enough ventilation up there on that building. That area under the corrugations may be blocked or may be open.

What you want to achieve in summer with ventilation is to get a good exchange of air so the coop doesn't overheat. Breezes on the birds doesn't matter in hot weather, it feels good. So vents high and low are good. In winter you still want a good exchange of air but in Pennsylvania you don't want a cold breeze hitting them. In the day it doesn't matter, they'll just move out of a cold breeze. At night they are a little more restricted though probably not as much as many people imagine. If the roosts are between low vents and high vents you can get a breeze between them if the wind is coming from that direction. It may be a good idea to block the low vents in winter. You are trying to stop a breeze, they don't have to be totally sealed. Maybe put a piece of plywood over them. With vents up high any breezes should be over their heads.

One possible trick to avoid breezes hitting them on the roosts (will depend on where the roosts and openings are) is to use a droppings board under the roosts but pretty close to them, just give yourself enough room under the roosts to scrape the droppings board. You are not trying to stop breezes in the coop, you are trying to stop breezes from hitting them on the roosts.

What does the framing look like on the inside of that building? That would affect how to add a louvered gable vent up high. The same type of vents those low ones probably are, probably the same size, at least width, to match existing framing. The louvers help keep the rain out. Maybe you could see how they attached those low vents to get an idea of how to attach the top ones.

I don't know what stage the builder is in making that. Can you get them to install those at the top instead of the bottom? If they haven't got to that part yet it may not be that hard to do.

I don't know what your physical limitations are or what tools you have. Tools could be a limiting factor. That siding looks like wood but may be metal or plastic. That could affect how to make the cut for a louvered vent and how to attach it. There are techniques to handle all that. With the right tools they aren't that hard for most people but we all have our limitations. I can't do things today that I could do a few years ago. We may be able to help you in how to install a louvered vent or two if we know what you are working with, if you need more ventilation up high at all. If that corrugation is open that's better than a ridge vent. It won't get blocked by snow.

 

[RojoMarz]

To help stop/block the rain, what about putting furnace filters behind the vent. Air flow would still happen, but perhaps the rain would be blocked.

 

[Susan-B]

Focus on the ventilation first. And update with pics....I'm sure lots of ideas can be had.

yep, thats the modifications I speak of

 

[Susan-B]

What does that building look like under the corrugations at the peak and low end? You may already have enough ventilation up there on that building. That area under the corrugations may be blocked or may be open.

What you want to achieve in summer with ventilation is to get a good exchange of air so the coop doesn't overheat. Breezes on the birds doesn't matter in hot weather, it feels good. So vents high and low are good. In winter you still want a good exchange of air but in Pennsylvania you don't want a cold breeze hitting them. In the day it doesn't matter, they'll just move out of a cold breeze. At night they are a little more restricted though probably not as much as many people imagine. If the roosts are between low vents and high vents you can get a breeze between them if the wind is coming from that direction. It may be a good idea to block the low vents in winter. You are trying to stop a breeze, they don't have to be totally sealed. Maybe put a piece of plywood over them. With vents up high any breezes should be over their heads.

One possible trick to avoid breezes hitting them on the roosts (will depend on where the roosts and openings are) is to use a droppings board under the roosts but pretty close to them, just give yourself enough room under the roosts to scrape the droppings board. You are not trying to stop breezes in the coop, you are trying to stop breezes from hitting them on the roosts.

What does the framing look like on the inside of that building? That would affect how to add a louvered gable vent up high. The same type of vents those low ones probably are, probably the same size, at least width, to match existing framing. The louvers help keep the rain out. Maybe you could see how they attached those low vents to get an idea of how to attach the top ones.

I don't know what stage the builder is in making that. Can you get them to install those at the top instead of the bottom? If they haven't got to that part yet it may not be that hard to do.

I don't know what your physical limitations are or what tools you have. Tools could be a limiting factor. That siding looks like wood but may be metal or plastic. That could affect how to make the cut for a louvered vent and how to attach it. There are techniques to handle all that. With the right tools they aren't that hard for most people but we all have our limitations. I can't do things today that I could do a few years ago. We may be able to help you in how to install a louvered vent or two if we know what you are working with, if you need more ventilation up high at all. If that corrugation is open that's better than a ridge vent. It won't get blocked by snow.

I'll see if I can find some pictures online. I'm pretty sure there are some spaces under the waves on the roof. *off to look for pix*

 

[TropicalBabies]

I'd just ask the contractor to put the 2x's on edge and run wild. Way easier for him/her.

 

[Susan-B]

What does that building look like under the corrugations at the peak and low end? You may already have enough ventilation up there on that building. That area under the corrugations may be blocked or may be open.

What you want to achieve in summer with ventilation is to get a good exchange of air so the coop doesn't overheat. Breezes on the birds doesn't matter in hot weather, it feels good. So vents high and low are good. In winter you still want a good exchange of air but in Pennsylvania you don't want a cold breeze hitting them. In the day it doesn't matter, they'll just move out of a cold breeze. At night they are a little more restricted though probably not as much as many people imagine. If the roosts are between low vents and high vents you can get a breeze between them if the wind is coming from that direction. It may be a good idea to block the low vents in winter. You are trying to stop a breeze, they don't have to be totally sealed. Maybe put a piece of plywood over them. With vents up high any breezes should be over their heads.

One possible trick to avoid breezes hitting them on the roosts (will depend on where the roosts and openings are) is to use a droppings board under the roosts but pretty close to them, just give yourself enough room under the roosts to scrape the droppings board. You are not trying to stop breezes in the coop, you are trying to stop breezes from hitting them on the roosts.

What does the framing look like on the inside of that building? That would affect how to add a louvered gable vent up high. The same type of vents those low ones probably are, probably the same size, at least width, to match existing framing. The louvers help keep the rain out. Maybe you could see how they attached those low vents to get an idea of how to attach the top ones.

I don't know what stage the builder is in making that. Can you get them to install those at the top instead of the bottom? If they haven't got to that part yet it may not be that hard to do.

I don't know what your physical limitations are or what tools you have. Tools could be a limiting factor. That siding looks like wood but may be metal or plastic. That could affect how to make the cut for a louvered vent and how to attach it. There are techniques to handle all that. With the right tools they aren't that hard for most people but we all have our limitations. I can't do things today that I could do a few years ago. We may be able to help you in how to install a louvered vent or two if we know what you are working with, if you need more ventilation up high at all. If that corrugation is open that's better than a ridge vent. It won't get blocked by snow.

Here’s what I found online The one picture shows what the roofline looks like from the inside. And I don’t think it comes with vents on the bottom I think that’s an extra option as is the hardware cloth window

 

[Susan-B]

View attachment 2624864View attachment 2624869
I'd just ask the contractor to put the 2x's on edge and run wild. Way easier for him/her.

It’s not a contractor and they don’t do any modifications really. They pretty much have 1 coop design (and you can add a window and those bottom vents if you want), and 1 coop/run design.