Coop Ventilation

[fivechicks715]

Hi Everyone,

We are new chicken owners as of April this year. My husband and I built this coop and want to know if there is enough ventilation. Pictures are attached and here are some facts about our coop to help with assessing if we have enough:

There is ventilation on the top left and right side. As well as in the front in the form of egg shaped windows (that will have proper shutters soon).

We are adding more ventilation in the very back lower part of the door so that there is ventilation on all sides of the coop for good air flow. It will be about 10 inches long and 3-4 inches wide- should we make it bigger?

We are adding a door to the right side of the coop (if facing the egg windows), for the chickens to walk out of - during the day we will leave the door open so they can go in and out of their coop to their run as they please - keep reading through the photos

(we are working on building the run right now).

We live in Southern, North Carolina, so it can get up to 110 degrees here, and will snow in the winter. We plan on boarding up the ventilation (Or most of it) then.

We have three orpingtons, one barred rock, and one rhode island red. They are around 5 weeks old. We have them solely for pets and egg laying, so we will keep them until they pass on their own, (hopefully many years).

Thank you for any help!
Georgia

 

[imnukensc]

Yep. You have enough ventilation. Don't board too much of it up in the winter. I'd only close up the egg holes.

 

[fivechicks715]

Yep. You have enough ventilation. Don't board too much of it up in the winter. I'd only close up the egg holes.

Thank you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Those egg holes are super cute! And for the size of the coop it looks like a good amount of ventilation, though I'd also consider adding a few vent holes right up under those amazing overhangs. You have boards across the rafters right now but if you could cut some openings in them it looks like an optimal place for additional vents, that are weather protected. Sort of like these:


I agree about not boarding all up during winters, cold isn't much of an issue in most climates but boarding up and then ending up with high humidity in the coop because the moisture from the chickens breathing has no where to go, can be a problem.

 

[fivechicks715]

Those egg holes are super cute! And for the size of the coop it looks like a good amount of ventilation, though I'd also consider adding a few vent holes right up under those amazing overhangs. You have boards across the rafters right now but if you could cut some openings in them it looks like an optimal place for additional vents, that are weather protected. Sort of like these:
View attachment 1809934

I agree about not boarding all up during winters, cold isn't much of an issue in most climates but boarding up and then ending up with high humidity in the coop because the moisture from the chickens breathing has no where to go, can be a problem.

Thank you!! There are actually gaps where those boards are, where I can fit 3-4 fingers through, but I will tell my husband about your suggestion!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you!! There are actually gaps where those boards are, where I can fit 3-4 fingers through, but I will tell my husband about your suggestion!

Gotcha, I couldn't tell from the photos. Just make sure any gaps or additional holes, if you add any, larger than 1/2" get covered with some wire mesh (not obvious in my photo but there's 1/4" hardware cloth sandwiched in).