Draft free coop mandatory?

[rahmis4ri1]

We are planning to make a bigger chicken coop for the chickens by repurposing a run down shed, about 10x5 ft. (We also plan on making the run attached to that, around 10x30.)

Out of the four sides of the shed, two sides are cemented wall, and the other two will be low walls (1/4 height) with existing wires. I've read somewhere that the whole chicken coop should ideally be closed up and draft free. So would having two sides being wires be inadequate? We have hot humid weather most of the time, while during monsoon it gets very wet with the heavy rain. Enclosing the wire sides with plywood or the like sounds like a big task. Can we get by with tarp, or bamboo? How draft free should it be, is the question I'm trying to figure out.

I'd post pics of the shed but unfortunately I'm not at the learning center now. Thanks!

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

My take is that you never want a completely air-tight coop, as you need good ventilation.

The main reason for wanting no drafts is to guard against cold and rain. If you don't have sub-freezing temperatures to deal with, I think something like plywood or a tarp to keep the rain out would suffice.

 

[aart]

If it's really hot, mesh walls might be best.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I agree. In hot, humid climates more ventilation is best. Sturdy tarps to block the rain and sturdy mesh to keep out predators including snakes.

 

[NatJ]

We have hot humid weather most of the time, while during monsoon it gets very wet with the heavy rain.

For hot, humid weather you want as much air movement as possible--so wire sides is a great idea. For heavy rain, you want to keep the rain out, but still allow air in. Maybe an extended roof or a windbreak to keep the rain from blowing in?

The "no drafts" worry is for people in cold places: when it's well below freezing, the chickens should not be sitting in a draft/breeze/wind/gale.

 

[Howard E]

The same guy (Woods) who developed the concepts of well ventilated, but draft free housing, also developed a house for hot humid locations. It had no solid walls at all. Only thing solid was a roof to shed the rain. Sides were all wire (that would be predator proof wire).