Cracks vs ventilation

[fiberart57]

So I'm building my hen house with a door to access the nest box which will be inside and a big door (3' x 2') around back to clean it with and a little pop door (12' x 16") but as a rank amateur builder I can't make these doors airtight. I can put in blocks so that if the wind blows it won't blow a draft on the girls but without weather stripping, which I'm afraid that they'll eat, I'm not capable of making the door openings airtight. Also, I'll need to but some kind of hole in the floor (or the roof?) for a heater for the water in the winter. Will these bits of air leakage be a problem?

I, and the girls, live in western Colorado where it has gotten to -11 degrees in the winter and usually tops 100 degrees in the summer. I have ventilation at the top of a 6' x 4' x 4' high coop on all four sides as well as windows on three sides for air flow that can, and will, be closed off during the winter, but I'm confused as to what really constitutes a draft and what's just ventilation. Wouldn't it be better to allow some air in toward the bottom of the house to facilitate the removal of waste gases?

Thanks to all for the advice in advance.

Mary

 

[Omran]

no preoblem you will be fine, as long as it is dry inside and the girls can worm each others.

 

[damselfish]

I would not worry about totally airtight doors. The way I think of it, a draft is cold air constantly blowing on your chickens. Sounds like what you have is ventilation.

I agree with you that they would probably eat the weatherstripping.

Edited to add: Your doors can overlap the opening on all sides and be hinged on the outside anyway. They don't need to be fitted doors like the doors in a house. Maybe you already know this...

 

[CityChook]

Hi Mary -

It sounds like you will be fine. I actually put some weatherstripping on my human door last winter, not so much because I was getting draft, but because the snow was working it's way inside. The weatherstripping did work, and surprisingly, they did not bother it. I did not do anything special on the chicken door because it was open all day (hello, big draft) and below them at night-time, so IF it was leaking air, it wasn't a big deal. I have ridgecap ventilation as well as a couple of closeable vents in the gables. Just having the door open during the day to create airflow out the vents was sufficient to keep moisture out and prevent frostbite problems and smell issues.

You will be fine putting a hole in the side to access electricity. If it was me, I'd do it higher instead of lower, but either would probably be fine.

I can tell that you're going to be a great chicken mom!

 

[patandchickens]

I'm going to disagree -- in a cold-winter climate you do NOT want openings low on the walls that will be open during wintertime, because they will blow cold drafts right at the chickens, which is a Bad Idea. Also snow will sift in and humidify the coop.

You do not need low openings for wintertime air exchange, honest. Having vents high up on the walls (where they are protected by eaves and will vent the warmest air, which is the most humid air, which is the most important to get rid of) works FINE. Air comes in as well as out those openings -- incoming cold air 'flows' down the walls while warm air is exiting. Realio trulio.

Low-down openings *are* good for summertime, as long as they don't cause gusty storm winds to kick up a tornado of bedding in the coop.

Small crack-like 'air leaks' are ok in a mild winter area, but NOT GOOD if you get significant cold. First, because as I mention above you do not want cold air blowing right ont he chickens; and second, because they will cause a lot of frost/condensate, which acts to trap moisture within the coop instead of keeeping it airborne where it can be vented out. Humid air is a major frostbite risk even at nonsevere temperatures - you really do want to do everything reasonable to keep the coop air DRY.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat