How do I explain ventilation to my contractor?

[Trish1974]

I have finally admitted defeat and I can no longer keep up with my 50'x60' garden. Heck, I only planted half of it this year and the other half is grown up in weeds. Since it is already fenced in, I have decided to get another coop and start a second flock and use half the garden as a run.

The premade coops like the ones they sell at storage barn and shed builders are so expensive! The ones I like are priced between $1400-$1800. I can't help but think they can be made a little less fancy and built a little bit cheaper. This is the style I like:

I have an awesome contractor who has agreed to take on the job. His carpentry skills are exceptional, but bless his little city-slicker heart he doesn't know anything about chickens or their needs. In a style like the coop above, what is the best way to ventilate it and how do I (who does not know builder lingo or roof parts) explain it to him?

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Hi Trish1974,

See this link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop.47774/

maybe just point your builder to this for him to read too

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Ask him to make a window in the back that is 4-6 inches tall running almost the total length of the back wall.
Congrats on the new coop! I can’t wait to see it!

 

[Folly's place]

Or, look up plans and have him build a Woods coop for you!
Mary

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ideally you want ventilation up high - those windows are great, but adding ridge, gable, soffit, under eave vents in addition to that will help a lot to let out humid air in the winter without adding drafts.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Tell me about keeping up with a garden that size. I had a 50' x 75', I understand. If it is all fenced already you might consider using half for a run this year, then flipping to give them the other half next year. Depending on how many chickens you have in that area they may not totally keep the weeds/grass down but they'll help fertilize it.

Anyway, you have overhang on the sloping sides with that. Underneath that overhang is called soffits. Tell him instead of making that solid underneath use hardware cloth to keep predators out but leave it open for air flow.

On the two peaked ends extend the overhang a foot or more and use gable vents as high as he can get them for good air flow. On the side with the door extending that overhang might help keep rain off of you when you want to go in.

For added ventilation you could use a ridge vent up on top at the peak. That may get blocked in winter by snow but it will move a lot of air in other conditions.

Print this off and show it to him if you wish.

 

[Trish1974]

If it is all fenced already you might consider using half for a run this year, then flipping to give them the other half next year.

My plans exactly! Not only will that be good for the soil and chickens but also easy rotational planting for my vegetables!

 

[Kiki]

Scroll through the comps below and save a few photos to show him pictures of ventilation.
He should be able to figure out how to add it to your coop by looking at pictures, right?


Coop Ideas:
Chicken Coops

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

How much will he be charging you? Curious minds want to know.

I would show him pics of what I like and expect from my chicken coop, just search through this site for inside pics of layout designs and go from there.

 

[Trish1974]

How much will he be charging you?

Don't know yet, we're still in the planning stages.
I emailed him a link to the article OhZark Biddies posted and a screenshot of RidgeRunner's post. I'm confident he'll do a great job!