Coop Vent question?

[kaylaC6500]

We are coming down to the wire in building our coop.

This is not the current picture of it, but it was the only one I had in the computer. I was wondering how large the vent up at the top should be? Up at the top is the 'triangle'. I was just going to put some screen over it and call it a day. The problem is that here in Colorado it does tend to get a bit cold. Last year it got down to 20 below. I worry if I make the vent too large it could make the coop cold in the winter. Should I shore up the front end of the coop and have a vent in the top or should I put wire on both sides to get a cross wind going inside of the coop for the summer??

 

[chfite]

The plan is to provide adequate cross ventilation in summer, but no draft in winter. Ventilation up high in the coop can provide this. With an inlet near the bottom to allow for air to rise, any ammonia or other fumes will be carried away.

The heat of summer can be a greater risk to the chickens than the cold of winter. Their feathers protect them from the cold, but provide limited benefit in the heat. They benefit from shade and ventilation and water.

Chris

 

[4 the Birds]

As Chris mentioned, vents up high are great to move moist air out. You could screen the gable triangle on both sides and figure out some type of shutter or board that you hinge from below. It would be nice to have a few more rectangle vents to open things up in the warm months. I like the ability to flap close a vent during high winds and storms. Especially blowing snow storms! Snow blows in and piles up through any small opening. It looks like you have a privacy fence which would make for a good wind block for cold winds but during the Summer air movement helps cool things down.

 

[kaylaC6500]

Thank you for your advice. On one side (not shown in Picture) there is a large window. I will be able to prop that up in the summer and should get a good breeze going in there to help with air flow. In the back is also two doors for cleaning out the coop. Not that I would have them open in the summer but it isn't all boarded up solid.
I do like the idea of a board with a hinge so that we can shut it when the real cold wind blows.