evaluate my coop.

[kgriffith]

Hey guys. Been watching the forums for some time and I finally built a new coop to replace my basic tractor. It is completed and now I am trying to determine if my design will provide enough ventilation. In the summer I plan to have the window and vent open all the time but as we approach winter I only am cracking the window on the front. I plan to install a light tomorrow but want to know if I should do change something for ventilation. Let me know what you think.

Attached are some photos of my coop.

Thanks for you help in advance.

 

[birdicus7]

Your coop looks great! However unless you have a lot of soffit vents that I can't see, you will have issues over the winter with condensation. I think you are terribly under vented.
How many birds are going inside?

 

[oldchickenlady]

Well, now that it is completed, it would be difficult to add any ventilation. If you had asked before putting your siding on, I would have said to maybe put vents up high on the side walls or even a skinny vent on the front of the coop up next to the roof line. That way there would have been no drafts blowing directly on your birds and it could have been left open all the time. Now, I don't what would be best to do...

 

[joebryant]

It always helps to know where you live. If you haven't listed your CITY/TOWN, STATE under your NAME yet, please go to (click) Profile (on the dark-blue line above) and then to the list on the left hand side titled Profile Menu. Going there and choosing the second item on the list, PERSONAL, you can type in the name of the city or town, state where you live.
Whatever, your 2x4 for roosting needs to be turned so that the 3 1/2" side is facing up; that way they can sit on their feet during the winter to keep warm. Chickens cannot balance themselves well on the 1 1/2" edge.

 

[tedabug]

I think it's cute. Add some hardware cloth behind the window and as along as it's not TOO cold, you have a vent. It should work fine in a moderate climate. Wheels like that would sink into Northern Oregon's rainy earth, so I'm guessing you are somewhere fairly dry. Good job. Looks cozy.

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

I think it looks phenomenal!

 

[patandchickens]

Sorry, I'm on dialup and gave up after 15 minutes of waiting produced only about the top 20% of just your first few photos

But, that said (having not really seen the full coop) -- is that an openable cover on the front of the rafter tails on the high side (the fascia board), is that your vent?

If so, that will probably remain reasonably useful in wintertime (including now), although how usable depends on your climate and so forth. Also on the position of your roost. I would suggest leaving that vent open, or at least part-open, whenever possible.

The difficulty with using a conventional window for ventilation is that the opening is generally somewhere around the middle of the wall, and thus does not access the warmest and thus most humidity-carrying air. Also it is usually more apt to cause drafts on the roost, especially in a small coop. Not saying don't do it when you can; but there may be some real *limits* on when you can do it, and it isn't giving you as much bang for your buck (ventilation wise) as a higher vent would.

If you should decide to add more vents -- which from the comments of others who HAVE been able to see all your pics, it sounds like you may oughta -- for a smallish coop like this, the best location is usually atop the wall that is both usually-downwind AND furthest opposite the roost.

Good luck, have ufn,

Pat

 

[PuckPuckPuck]

I think you did an awesome job!!!

You might need some vent holes but seeing the way you handled yourself with the coop, I think you can handle anything.

Trapper

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Hi! and

!!

Your coop looks nice

Like joebryant said, you'll want to turn your 2 x 4 with the flat side up to give them more to perch on. I'd add vents under the roof line where you're not getting wind blown straight in. Not knowing your back yard I can't tell you whether the front is best or if you should put them on the ends. If you don't get wind blowing straight at it I'd put vents all along the front as high as you can. Here's a pic of some vents I have. I have 3 sets along the front for my coop. It's south facing so no direct wind blows in.

 

[kgriffith]

Thanks for the advice. I can easily put some soffit vents in. Should I put. Them on the low side near the perch as well as the high side by the window? The window has poultry wire on it but as it gets colder I think it would be drafty. I will flip the perch on the side tomorrow when I am wiring the light. There are 2 easter eggers and 3 black sex links in the coop now. I based my coop on some amish coops for sale in my area. I live in south eastern pa if that helps. This is my first aatept at chickens so I want to make sure they will make it through the winter. The vent on the low side of the roof is close to the roost so I will only be using that during the summer months I suppose.