Do I have enough ventilation for my chicken coop?

[Shellysstuff7]

Hi, I live in Central Arizona. I am going to be building a new coop and I am using a metal 8x6 shed. It will be shaded by 2 large trees a smaller tree and my house. It will also have a small attached run. I have a mister system that will also help keep things cooler. There will be an opening for the run access that will be covered with a hardware cloth "door" for the night time but will remain open during the day. I also have 1 window (which opens), 2 gable vents and a Whirlybird for the roof. I will be letting them out to free range in their bigger yard so the doors will be open during the day. Do you all think this is enough ventilation for them? Please let me know by answering the poll. Thank you!!!

 

[springvalley123]

Hi, I live in Central Arizona. I am going to be building a new coop and I am using a metal 8x6 shed. It will be shaded by 2 large trees and it will have an attached run. There will be an opening for the run access that will be covered with a hardware cloth "door" for the night time but will remain open during the day. I also have 1 window (which opens), 2 gable vents and a Whirlybird for the roof. I will be letting them out to free range in their bigger yard so the doors will be open during the day. Do you all think this is enough ventilation for them? Please let me know by answering the poll. Thank you!!!

Not sure where in central AZ, but if it's near Phx, or even Black Canyon, or even where I am in Mayer, the word METAL is a show stopper. I had a metal roof on a coop that was under a large tree, even with elastomeric roof coating and insulation on the inside, it was too hot. If there's anything you can use instead you'd be better off, even if you open an entire side making it a 3-sided coop with all the 4th side hardware cloth. Maybe you can mitigate the metal with shade cloth set up a foot or so away, but I haven't tried that. I'd avoid metal or plastic/resin and stick with wood. Another thing I did that worked, was to make just a roost in a predator proof enclosure. The roost would have a roof of ondura or anything but metal, with framed sides, and two sides (north and west probably of siding, and the other two sides of shade cloth (to make the birds feel safe/enclosed. The walls started about 3 feet, so only the roost portion was sheltered. The structure was a lean to with total height 5-5.5 ft, counting the sheltered roost portion.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I also worry about how a metal building will do in a high heat environment.

As far as ventilation, you'd need to actually go and measure the size of your vents and provide that info. Right now it sounds like it's not enough, but maybe your window is much larger than I imagine, or maybe your gable vents are unusually large, etc. In a hot climate you'd definitely want to go for well over the minimum recommendation.

As comparison, I have 32 sq ft or so of ventilation in a 60 sq ft coop and honestly I wouldn't mind having even more.

 

[Shellysstuff7]

Not sure where in central AZ, but if it's near Phx, or even Black Canyon, or even where I am in Mayer, the word METAL is a show stopper. I had a metal roof on a coop that was under a large tree, even with elastomeric roof coating and insulation on the inside, it was too hot. If there's anything you can use instead you'd be better off, even if you open an entire side making it a 3-sided coop with all the 4th side hardware cloth. Maybe you can mitigate the metal with shade cloth set up a foot or so away, but I haven't tried that. I'd avoid metal or plastic/resin and stick with wood. Another thing I did that worked, was to make just a roost in a predator proof enclosure. The roost would have a roof of ondura or anything but metal, with framed sides, and two sides (north and west probably of siding, and the other two sides of shade cloth (to make the birds feel safe/enclosed. The walls started about 3 feet, so only the roost portion was sheltered. The structure was a lean to with total height 5-5.5 ft, counting the sheltered roost portion.

I also worry about how a metal building will do in a high heat environment.

As far as ventilation, you'd need to actually go and measure the size of your vents and provide that info. Right now it sounds like it's not enough, but maybe your window is much larger than I imagine, or maybe your gable vents are unusually large, etc. In a hot climate you'd definitely want to go for well over the minimum recommendation.

As comparison, I have 32 sq ft or so of ventilation in a 60 sq ft coop and honestly I wouldn't mind having even more.

Thank you for the info! I really appreciate it! My husband and I have decided to just revamp the old coop and not use a metal shed. He pointed out that when it storms it will be SUPER loud inside for them. Not to mention the heat like you were both saying. Thanks again!!