Help with my used coop-ventilation-extra parts?

[carp]

Hi all,

I got a used coop from someone in the area, and I'm worried it doesn't have enough ventilation. Plus, we found an extra piece inside it and can't figure out what it's for. The people we got it from never used it (it was on their property when they bought a new house) so they have no idea either.

The coop is 48" wide by 49" deep. It's 53.5" tall at the front and slopes down to 39.6" at the back. That doesn't include the 11.5" it's raised off the ground.

Here's some pictures:




It doesn't have ventilation at all! I don't know if I should cut out a window to cover with wire, or drill holes near the top, or what exactly to do here.

This is the extra piece:


It was laying on the bottom of the coop but we didn't notice it until after we got it home. It fits in the side doors perfectly, but I'm not sure why?

And, just in case, here's the interior. I haven't cleaned it out yet (I did read up on how to clean coops):



Thanks for any advice you all can offer!

 

[jetdog]

This is how I did my vents, hinged at the top so I can regulate how much air is coming in, adjusted with a piece of chain. Change the roost to a 2x4 laying flat spanning the coop those little roost bars will kill their feet.

 

[carp]

Thanks for the reply! I read a lot more about ventilation and see that I don't have enough at all. I'll be fixing that.

I totally glossed over the size that the roosting spots need to be. We have what we need to fix that. Is it OK to leave the ladder in there as is for climbing up and down from roosting spots? Or will they try to roost on the smaller bars and hurt themselves?

Still haven't figured out what that extra piece is for.

 

[jetdog]

I would take the ladder thing out, it will free up more floor space, they will be able to hop on the new one, just make sure you have the roost higher than the laying boxes or they will sleep in them and poop, chickens can hop surprisingly well.