Coop Ventilation

[Yonah Feld]

Hi!
I bought this coop from Tractor Supply and will be moving 3 chickens in. I was wondering if someone can take a look at the link and let me know what to do about ventilation. There are two maintenance doors and some spacing in between the parts. Is it fine or do I need to drill in a vent.
What should I do??

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...WtfDoiFfXQLAt2F2c0SW1ned4hBwkAsxoCv4cQAvD_BwE

 

[black_cat]

That coop is not big enough for three chickens. It has 15 square feet of run space, which is only big enough for one chicken, maybe two bantams. The coop is even smaller- it looks like the coop area is 2x3, which is only enough space for one chicken. I know that it says it's for 6 chickens, but it really isn't enough space for more than one or two bantams.

 

[Mamatomany123]

You will definitely need to add ventilation. I didnt see any on the pictures. And this coop is not big enough for 3 chickens.

 

[Yonah Feld]

Didn't mention we built a larger run around the coop (around 13ft x 8 ft) and will let them roam free under supervision for a few hours each day.

 

[black_cat]

Didn't mention we built a larger run around the coop (around 13ft x 8 ft) and will let them roam free under supervision for a few hours each day.

I think that it would be a great idea to convert the whole purchased coop/run combo into a coop, and place it outside of that run instead of inside.

 

[MixedFlock23]

One TSC review or question/answer said it leaked at the hinges on the nest box roof... so I’d leave it in your run like you have it. Plus it’s more secure that way with two sets of walls to separate predators & your chickens. A TSC question/answer said it was just over 10sq ft inside counting three nest boxes... if you only have 3 chickens and you open up the divider between two nest boxes (making 2 more sq ft of usable coop floor) then you’ll have 9 sq ft in the coop (& one 1 sq ft nest box) which is perfect for three bantam hens.
If you leave it inside your secure run, you could leave an access door open for ventilation (on the side most guarded/away from prevailing winds) or leave the nest box roof hinged open. I worry about predators and would find comfort in adding hardware cloth up in the roof gable area... I’ll mark it in blue. Cut holes with a jigsaw and put hardware cloth over the hole & secure with strips of wood (or just washers & screws). Then you can lock them up tight in the coop and then lock the run too. It’s recommended to have 1 sq ft of ventilation per chicken or at least 10% of the floor space. Hopefully those triangles will give you 2-3 sq ft of ventilation, if you go that route. GL!
I would personally take down the run panels and just let them enjoy under the coop and your big run. I’ll add screenshots with my scribbles.

 

[3KillerBs]

I agree with the above. That coop is much too small.

The usual guidelines for space are that every adult, standard-sized hen needs:

4 square feet in the coop,
10 square feet in the run,
1 linear foot of roost.
and 1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation.

Additionally, the roost needs to be above the nestboxes and the ventilation is best placed above the birds heads when sitting on the roost -- almost impossible to achieve unless the coop is at least 4 feet tall from floor to roof-peak.

Your run, however, is very nice! Space in the run compensates for lack in the coop up to a point -- that point being the time when weather or other circumstances require the chickens to be shut up in the coop.

Since you've got the building skills, you'll probably want to upgrade to a new coop as soon as feasible. There are a lot of good, small-coop designs in BYC's coop pages.

If you add your location to your profile we can give you better targeted suggestions tp suit your climate.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I would put 3 walls up on the run, predator proof that and call it done, after tossing the coop that is.

 

[aart]

What should I do??

Making the coop/run combo into all coop would probably be a good idea.
The run looks good!

Welcome to BYC! @Yonah Feld
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[K0k0shka]

That thing is smaller than my brooder Agree with others, turn the run into a coop and make a bigger run to act as a run. Or get pigeons.