First winter with my flock, want to make sure this is sufficient ventilation :)

[Alliesan648]

Make sure the north side is fairly closed up to prevent really cold wind coming in but leave the vents open otherwise. One consideration is that chickens are more likely to get bumble foot from high perches. A good layer of shavings on the floor will help them stay warm as well. Most important make sure they have water. You need to provide a frost proof source of water if you can. I do recommend you keep it outside though if you let them out during the day. I use heated dog water bowls for my birds which kick on automatically at 34 degrees. They do make heated waterers but they are very pricey.
What kind of siding is on the coop? is it something the ermines can climb up on? If not you should be good. If they can climb it you might want to reinforce the vents with heavy wire on top of the chicken wire.

Thanks for your input, it’s much appreciated!
I do have a heated dog bowl out for them. Also the excess water from our artesian well (overflow from our drinking water storage tanks) runs through their run, which I’ve seen them drinking from too, it never freezes, even in -30 and below. So, I think they’re pretty covered on the water situation. I’m not sure if the dog bowl is even needed, but I’m gonna leave it anyways.
There’s just stained plywood on the side of the coop so, I won’t be underestimating any weasels here, I believe they are excellent climbers. Gonna find some smaller hardware cloth for up top there.
I’m not sure about the prevailing wind here, I live in a valley that runs east west, there’s a mountain to the north, would you still cover it up in that case?

 

[Alliesan648]

The ventilation looks good, and I agree about the chicken wire not being adequate. Add 1/" hardware cloth over all openings larger that 1/2" diameter! Mine is stapled into the wood framing with fence staples, and then 1x4" boards are screwed in over the top. Security!!!
Have the north side closed in; you can use plastic sheeting, and remove it in spring.
Deep shavings work well for bedding, and your roosts look good to me.
Either take fresh water out there three times daily, or have electricity for heated waterer bases, or waterers of some sort.
Dog dishes work great, except for roosters with large wattles, which will get wet and maybe freeze. One reason that I like Chanteclers!
Mary

Thanks Mary!
I’m going to get some 1/4” hardware cloth and get it covered up better. I have a heated dog bowl and everyone is an americauna equipped with a pea comb, so no wattles to worry about

 

[lutherpug]

I had a similar setup in my last coop and it worked great aside from a small amount of frostbite during a particularly bad cold snap (-15F) on a RIR with a giant comb. Other than that, all good.

 

[Howard E]

The amount of ventilation you have is important, but how it vents is too. Read you do not want drafts......a lot of air movement.....past the roosts. Think of it like wind chill. Ideally, the roost area needs to be mostly calm.

So one way to test for drafts is to go out and hang some light ribbons (survey flagging tape works well) through the roost area. With the right stuff, any little air movement at all will set those ribbons into motion so you can actually see the air movement if you have any. Moving around a bit is OK, but dancing back and forth and up and down is no good.

Test it during daylight hours with the house shut up as you would have it when the sun goes down and the birds go to roost. Test it on a day when the wind outside is really honking. That's how you will know.

 

[chicken danz]

@Howard E , great info. I would do as he says but I would wait for when a cold front moves in and brings the colder wind. Then you will know which side to cover from cold winds.

 

[aart]

Test it on a day when the wind outside is really honking. That's how you will know.

This^^^

Nice eave openings!
You could use cardboard 'dampers' inside, from top of wall to about foot or so up, attached to the bottom of the rafters to direct airflow from eaves up higher away from roosts.

You might want to attach your 1/2" hardware cloth from the outside...tho I can't see how the rafters come out and if there's a fascia or not. If you don't have a fascia, it might be good to add one as it will help protect from winds blowing in.