Help with ventilation please! Pic

[TexGal]

So my DH has been working on the frame of the coop. It was decided to make the back side with big doors for easy cleaning. The issue is the ventilation. As you can see in the pic there is about 3 inches of open space. We can either cover it with the siding, or cover with hardware cloth for a vent. You can also see that both sides have vents open all the time, and the front will have a window (24x18) that will open into a vent. So what do y'all think?

Have more vents or cover it. BTW we live down by San Antonio.

 

[PDXcluck]

I am a rookie, but from all I've read I would say to go with more ventilation.

 

[Melinda35]

I am in central Texas and I say open air coop all they way. They need more shade than anything. The winters here are not harsh enough to have it all closed up. My coop is 8 x 18 and only one end is covered and that is about 8 x 8. I am considering putting metal over the whole top of it though for more shade and more roosting space out where the summer wind wont be blocked.

 

[CuckooNest]

New to chickens but know a few things about HVAC.

Think location and orientation. How much direct sunlight would be allowed to pass through in your planned location? Which wall will face the prevailing wind direction of your area? Having the rear vented is a great passive design in most locations allowing the hot air to rise and escape the top front and pull cooler air in behind it from the back while keeping most of the draft above the chickens if it does ever get humid and chilly in Tx. My coop was designed very simmiliar to yours with that exact idea in mind with vents located high on only the rear and front walls. It makes a great little wind tunnel but a 5mph breeze with the back open causes a whirlwind of wood chips.

looking good, good luck and hope everything turns out great!

 

[chfite]

I would go with more ventilation. Heat is really hard on chickens.

Chris

 

[TexGal]

Awesome! Thanks everyone for responding! We are going to go with more vents!!!

 

[crchickens]

We did a similar thing. We have venting all along the front and back of the entire 6 X 8 coop for a good cross breeze. On each side, one of which is where the winds mostly blow from, we added a vent, and those side vents will be closed off for winter and opened for summer.