Coop ventilation revisions -pics incl

[Bicoastal]

I want to improve the ventilation of my coop before my keets arrive in Spring. The SE and NW walls are enclosed. Though it looks open and drafty, it is very warm in the summer (Central VA with humid summers). It is also quite dark. Without rebuilding, what changes would you make to improve the ventilation?

 

[Sally PB]

I'd remove the siding at the gable ends and cover it with hardware cloth. The shallow eaves won't keep rain out, though. Can you extend the eaves? Another possibility would be a top hinged shutter you could secure to provide some protection, and then close if you had to during a storm.

 

[3KillerBs]

You need ventilation at the bottom and top of the roof slope so that hot air flows along the underside of the roof and escapes at the top.

Opening the gable ends is a good option.

Pulling all the siding off the leeward wall and replacing it with wire might be an even better option.

This is my open-air coop here in central NC:

I did zip-tie a tarp to the fully-open wall as a windbreak for the worst of winter since we can get storms from any direction.

 

[Sally PB]

Oh, yeah, I just noticed you're in the steamy southeast! @3KillerBs has much better ideas on ventilation for that area. I'm up north in Michigan.

 

[Bicoastal]

You need ventilation at the bottom and top of the roof slope so that hot air flows along the underside of the roof and escapes at the top.

Opening the gable ends is a good option.

Pulling all the siding off the leeward wall and replacing it with wire might be an even better option.

Which wall is leeward? I was definitely thinking cut away the gable ends. Do I need to then lower the highest roost? Guineas like to be as high as they can, but if I open the gable ends their heads may be in the cross ventilation.

In winter, I do have a big slab of plexy glass-type something. It's an old sign. That would be a good winter-time cover over the hardware cloth.

 

[3KillerBs]

Which wall is leeward? I was definitely thinking cut away the gable ends. Do I need to then lower the highest roost? Guineas like to be as high as they can, but if I open the gable ends their heads may be in the cross ventilation.

In winter, I do have a big slab of plexy glass-type something. It's an old sign. That would be a good winter-time cover over the hardware cloth.

Which direction do your storm winds come from? That's windward, the opposite is leeward.

Even in winter you don't want to cover ALL your wire, just enough to keep the roost area from being drafty -- with "drafty" defined as breeze strong enough to ruffle their feathers.

I'm not familiar with the management of guineas. Maybe ask that on the guinea forum? https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/guinea-fowl.45/