Enough ventilation in new coop? (4no. 5" x 8" louvers)

[iananderson]

Hiya,
My previous coops were in New Zealand and East Africa but now I am in Norway, a different kettle of fish entirerly!

I just finished building this coop, but after reading 'patandchickens' page on ventilation I'm worried I haven't allowed for enough ventilation...... My previous coops were built from scraps left lying around and had more than enough gaps lol!

I used 2" timber and filled it with fiberglass, clad inside with board and timber outside. I built in two 5" x 8" louvered vents in the bottom and another two high up in the gables. it's a basic 4'x4'x4' cube for 4 or possibly 5 chooks (one we can't yet decide if it's a late developing roo....)

Any thoughts from anyone 'oop North' as we Brits say??

Cheers
Ian

 

[4 the Birds]

Hiya,
My previous coops were in New Zealand and East Africa but now I am in Norway, a different kettle of fish entirerly!

I just finished building this coop, but after reading 'patandchickens' page on ventilation I'm worried I haven't allowed for enough ventilation...... My previous coops were built from scraps left lying around and had more than enough gaps lol!

I used 2" timber and filled it with fiberglass, clad inside with board and timber outside. I built in two 5" x 8" louvered vents in the bottom and another two high up in the gables. it's a basic 4'x4'x4' cube for 4 or possibly 5 chooks (one we can't yet decide if it's a late developing roo....)

Any thoughts from anyone 'oop North' as we Brits say??

Cheers
Ian

May be OK if you leave your pop door open full time to the run for air flow. Personally.... I would cut a large 2 ft x 2 ft opening in the back side or woods side or long opening between the wall joists of the coop. That could be covered with hardware cloth and a top hinged board that can be angled open during warm weather and latched closed during storms or Winter months.

I create large openings in the coop to the run during the warm months to keep things cool.

 

[iananderson]

Good point about the pop hole. It will be open all day as well.

Re: extra air in the summer time, what I could do is make up a panel/frame covered with chicken mesh and then prop open the big door on the side (made for 100% access/cleaning etc), then the mesh frame could sit in the opening, allowing lots of air into the coop.

Also I think I'll invest in another of those inside/outside temperature thermometers and use it to keep an eye on internal temps year round till I understand how the coop works.