hot coop

[flytpm]

I built my coop with metal roof and sides. It was near 90 degrees here yesterday and same temp in coop. Here are some older pics from when I first started. There's a window on the east side and a large vent on the west side above the pop door, plus small vents at top ( about 4"x24") on north and south sides. What can I do to cool it off in there? I wish now I had used wood siding but had to cut back on costs.

 

[joebryant]

Did you add insulation and interior walls? If not, that will cut down on the heat a lot. You might also paint your coop a lighter color so that it will reflect the sunlight.

 

[flytpm]

No, I just screwed the metal (tin) to the frame.

 

[DarkWolf]

If the ambient temperatures around you are in the 90's then the coop will be that as well. Not like you're running AC in the coop. The problem will be if the coop gets HOTTER than the outside temps.

So long as there is good ventilation that's all that can be done.. There is no way to cool a coop lower than the outside temperatures.

 

[flytpm]

Okay, that makes since. Do you think putting OSB inside about 1.5 in from metal would help or just wasting money?

 

[patandchickens]

I'd suggest more ventilation... true, your coop is not going to be cooler than the outdoor daytime air for any length of time, BUT really good airflow (and no offense meant, but yours is a bit minimal) will give you two valuable things: 1) a breeze, which helps b/c a chicken in the shade in a breeze is a lot cooler chicken than one in hot *still* shade; and b) the coop will cool off as quickly as the ambient air does, rather than remaining hot during cloudy hours or after the sun goes down.

Insulating will help some, especially insulating under the roof if it's bare metal there, but really cutting one or two big ol' holes in the walls and covering 'em with mesh may give you as much or more bang for your buck. The cut-out sections can be kept to be bolted back on for winter. I wouldn't do just OSB, though, it doesn't have that much insulating value for the work involved in putting it up.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Anny]

Try to shade the coop if possible this will help. And adding ventilation also helps alot as well.

 

[yfchoice]

I used greenhouse type roofing on my coop, forgetting about the greenhouse effect. I got some "Henry" white roofing paint from Home Depot and put a couple of 3 coats on the roof. Brought the temps down remarkably.

 

[toyzbox]

I found this cool little ventilation fan that runs on 1 solar panel that I can put on the roof of the coop. The coop is too far from the house to run power. It was only about $60. I know some folks don't want to go to that much expense but I'm in NW Florida and the humidity can get pretty bad. This may not cool the coop off a bunch but I’m thinking it will keep the air moving.

 

[flytpm]

ok, more ventilation it is. Thanks everybody.