Does this coop have enough ventilation?

[Brookliner]

I am just starting on the chicken adventure. I recently got an awesome deal on  a coop off craigslist that was made by Urban Coop Company. I'm in the process of cleaning it up, but my question is, is there too much ventilation in this coop? The wood boards that form the sides of the coop are not flush together. I am concerned that in the winter, quite a bit of draft will plague the chickens. I am tempted to caulk the coop, but have been contemplating. The former owner was okay with it and that is the way it was made. The winter's here in Eastern Washington state can get quite cold and windy.

Use the batten method to close the gaps between boards then create ventilation at the top covered with hardware cloth. Make sure that the hens heads are below the ventilation when they are on the roost. My bantams did fine including my silkies and we had some -15 deg. F nights this winter. Don't worry about the cold. Wory more about having enough ventilation to exhaust the ammonia out of the coop. Using a poop tray with PDZ keeps the ammonia down because it absorbes it. Youcan scoop the poop with a kitty liter scop. Just do a search on BYC on poop trays or PDZ. good luck with your chickens.

 

[KelleyRae]

Use the batten method to close the gaps between boards then create ventilation at the top covered with hardware cloth. Make sure that the hens heads are below the ventilation when they are on the roost. My bantams did fine including my silkies and we had some -15 deg. F nights this winter. Don't worry about the cold. Wory more about having enough ventilation to exhaust the ammonia out of the coop. Using a poop tray with PDZ keeps the ammonia down because it absorbes it. Youcan scoop the poop with a kitty liter scop. Just do a search on BYC on poop trays or PDZ. good luck with your chickens.

Unlike techiebabe, my coop has plenty of ventalation. The floor of the roost is wire, no poop tray. The coop came with these nifty covers with that cover the 4 sides of the run and the door of the coop, held in place by magnets. Pretty cool.
Hope you have luck, techiebabe, getting your coop together. The lady who sold me the coop said that finding your first egg is like finding an awesome gift on Christmas morning.

 

[Cadbury22]

Thanks for the good idea! Maybe I will wrap the coop up in a clear shower curtain (except for the vent holes on top) next winter.

Great! It really helps to keep out the wind. I really recommend it!

 

[techiebabe]

Unlike techiebabe, my coop has plenty of ventalation. The floor of the roost is wire, no poop tray. The coop came with these nifty covers with that cover the 4 sides of the run and the door of the coop, held in place by magnets. Pretty cool.
Hope you have luck, techiebabe, getting your coop together. The lady who sold me the coop said that finding your first egg is like finding an awesome gift on Christmas morning.

Thanks for the good wishes! My builder will be round today, so we will look at the options together. also someone mentioned PDZ, and zeolite is already in my plans, so hopefully that will help along with increasing the ventilation.

The first egg does sound special. Except as mine will be ex-batts, I'm told to expect an egg early on (one which was already in progress, so to speak!) and then for a break while they adjust to their new life and put all their energy into feathering back up. But THEN the first egg... Yeah, not kidding, it'll be a thrill

Thanks Kelley!