Coop venting question

[member 615286]

Hi folks,
I used an old dresser I found in a dumpster, and have two questions about the venting:

1. There is a shelf intact, that sits between the lower vent/door and the upper vent (photos attached), and am wondering if this is obstructing proper airflow between them? I can saw it out if so.
And also,
2. Do you advise I add venting to the front as well, and if so, low or high?
(I am assuming not directly in front of the nesting box, tho it can be moved. I placed it where it is currently, as it would be the darkest and not facing the larger south facing side with the large upper vent/low door and vent. The coop run is covered but will still have a draft).
(3 bantams)
Thank you kindly,

 

[DobieLover]

Hi folks,
I used an old dresser I found in a dumpster, and have two questions about the venting:

1. There is a shelf intact, that sits between the lower vent/door and the upper vent (photos attached), and am wondering if this is obstructing proper airflow between them? I can saw it out if so.
And also,
2. Do you advise I add venting to the front as well, and if so, low or high?
(I am assuming not directly in front of the nesting box, tho it can be moved. I placed it where it is currently, as it would be the darkest and not facing the larger south facing side with the large upper vent/low door and vent. The coop run is covered but will still have a draft).
(3 bantams)
Thank you kindly,

Can you post pictures of the side opposite the window side?
Can you post pictures of the roof? Did you attach anything to serve as a pitched roof?
Drafts in front of the nest box don't matter. Drafts strong enough to open feathers on a roosted bird during cold weather do. You'll probably want a top hinged cover for the window for it to be of use.
I would want to have a high vent on the opposite wall for good ventilation that was also covered with a top hinged cover/window.
What is that little stand in the lower left corner?
Will you have a covered run for them for winter?

 

[member 615286]

Can you post pictures of the side opposite the window side?
Can you post pictures of the roof? Did you attach anything to serve as a pitched roof?
Drafts in front of the nest box don't matter. Drafts strong enough to open feathers on a roosted bird during cold weather do. You'll probably want a top hinged cover for the window for it to be of use.
I would want to have a high vent on the opposite wall for good ventilation that was also covered with a top hinged cover/window.
What is that little stand in the lower left corner?
Will you have a covered run for them for winter?

run is covered
Roof is flat
I can add venting to the opposite side of that pictured with the current vents/door no problem, which right now is just closed.
And anticipated needing to add a window cover in the winter, thanks for confirming this.
The stand is just for them to access the nesting box, being little bantams. They aren’t laying yet, not sure if they’ll use it.
They aren’t roosting, sleeping on the ground in a pile.
do you suggest I add vents to the front as well?
thanks you

 

[member 615286]

Can you post pictures of the side opposite the window side?
Can you post pictures of the roof? Did you attach anything to serve as a pitched roof?
Drafts in front of the nest box don't matter. Drafts strong enough to open feathers on a roosted bird during cold weather do. You'll probably want a top hinged cover for the window for it to be of use.
I would want to have a high vent on the opposite wall for good ventilation that was also covered with a top hinged cover/window.
What is that little stand in the lower left corner?
Will you have a covered run for them for winter?

I can take more photos when I’m back home.
The roof is flat, (just the other side of the 3x4’ dresser). There is a run roof several feet above it; the coop itself does not get rain or snow.

 

[member 615286]

Can you post pictures of the side opposite the window side?
Can you post pictures of the roof? Did you attach anything to serve as a pitched roof?
Drafts in front of the nest box don't matter. Drafts strong enough to open feathers on a roosted bird during cold weather do. You'll probably want a top hinged cover for the window for it to be of use.
I would want to have a high vent on the opposite wall for good ventilation that was also covered with a top hinged cover/window.
What is that little stand in the lower left corner?
Will you have a covered run for them for winter?

I understand a flat roof is not recommended, and why I want to ensure proper ventilation since it is.

 

[3KillerBs]

Drafts in front of the nest box don't matter. Drafts strong enough to open feathers on a roosted bird during cold weather do. You'll probably want a top hinged cover for the window for it to be of use.
I would want to have a high vent on the opposite wall for good ventilation that was also covered with a top hinged cover/window.

This is good advice.

Here's an article on safe props for top-hinged windows:https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/window-support-for-top-hinged-windows.74810/

Since a dresser is undoubtedly not made from treated wood you will want to make sure that it's up off the wet ground and well-painted with exterior paint.

You might also want to put a metal roof on it with good overhangs to help protect the wood from water.

Congratulations, your creative recycling has given you a coop that is roomier and better made than a lot of the prefabs people buy.

 

[member 615286]

This is good advice.

Here's an article on safe props for top-hinged windows:https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/window-support-for-top-hinged-windows.74810/

Since a dresser is undoubtedly not made from treated wood you will want to make sure that it's up off the wet ground and well-painted with exterior paint.

You might also want to put a metal roof on it with good overhangs to help protect the wood from water.

Congratulations, your creative recycling has given you a coop that is roomier and better made than a lot of the prefabs people buy.

Thank you
It is raised off the ground,
And has multiple coats of exterior paint

the run it is in, is large, metal roofing, and so the coop is covered, fully protected from rain/snow
*thank you*! for sharing the top hinged resource
And thank you for acknowledging my efforts! I was worried I’d get a lot of criticism with the flat roof and realize I had failed miserably; your feedback is encouraging

I just want to ensure I have adequate ventilation considering the roof is flat, and read varying advice around the venting.
Thanks for any additional thoughts you might have

 

[member 615286]

You can take that out. My bantams fly better than any of the big girls. When they grow up, they will easily fly up there. Unless they are Silkies...

They are silkies lol
I can experiment with what they need to access the nesting box, or can lower it, or move it, if you have any thoughts seeing what I have in place now and knowing they’re Silkie

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you
It is raised off the ground,
And has multiple coats of exterior paint

the run it is in, is large, metal roofing, and so the coop is covered, fully protected from rain/snow
*thank you*! for sharing the top hinged resource
And thank you for acknowledging me efforts! I was worried I’d get a lot of criticism with the flat roof and realize I had failed miserably; your feedback is encouraging

I just want to ensure I have adequate ventilation considering the roof is flat, and read varying advice around the venting.
Thanks for any additional thoughts you might have

You should be in great shape then.

Be sure to make a coop page article on it and enter the coop page contest. People need to know about these creative alternatives to those cheap and inadequate prefabs.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/official-byc-coop-page-contest-12.1483504/

 

[aart]

the run it is in, is large, metal roofing, and so the coop is covered, fully protected from rain/snow
..... I was worried I’d get a lot of criticism with the flat roof

Flat coop roof isn't a problem if there is another weather shedding roof over it.
Waiting for more pics.