How much ventilation, and where??

[Clglantz]

Hi! I’m completely new to chickens, and although very excited to learn all about my new girls, I’m at a loss.
we built a coop semi on the fly after agreeing to take two chicks from a friend, and I’m worried it doesn’t have enough ventilation. I don’t know proper terminology either, so bear with me please. There is a mostly enclosed box that they’ll go in at night, and the nesting boxes are in there. The night time box is fully enclosed except for a slight gap on either side of the nesting box lid (1”max) and the top is open, just meshed over on three sides. It’s not insulated, it has a solid floor. As if now there are no windows on the sides, and the fourth side will be fully enclosed.
is this too much of a boxed in mess or am I ok? Do I need more ventilation? I worry that more will be too cold in winter. The coop doesn’t get much sun, but I live in California, and 110 degrees in summer isn’t uncommon.
help please!!

 

[Dragonisme]

a picture would help!

 

[Clglantz]

a picture would help!

I’ll get one in the morning.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Photos will help for sure. From the description so far, you'll want to add a LOT more ventilation. Plus lack of windows will make it difficult to convince chickens to go inside, as they can't see well in darkness.

You said you're worried about the cold... how cold does it get where you're at? My guess is not nearly cold enough to cause any issues. Your high heat could be fatal though, so that's really what you need to deal with.

 

[wamtazlady]

I live in northern Montana and never worry about the coop getting too cold. I would more worry about the coop having too much moisture. It is the moisture that will make your chickens cold, not the cold air. Chickens can make a lot of moisture in a coop at night by breathing and pooping. I have a 6 by 8 foot coop with 10 square feet of ventilation that is never closed. The chickens do fine. They are wrapped in that wonderful down jacket. Have never lost a chicken in the winter. Coop is not insulated. Water and food is kept outside in the run that is roofed and has 3 sizes covered in clear vinyl during the winter to keep breezes off the birds. Our normal winters have temperatures down into the -20s F. Chickens don't mind the cold.

 

[Clglantz]

Photos will help for sure. From the description so far, you'll want to add a LOT more ventilation. Plus lack of windows will make it difficult to convince chickens to go inside, as they can't see well in darkness.

You said you're worried about the cold... how cold does it get where you're at? My guess is not nearly cold enough to cause any issues. Your high heat could be fatal though, so that's really what you need to deal with.

It only gets down to freezing occasionally in the winter. I’ve never had chickens before, so all of this is new!! Thank you!!

 

[Clglantz]

I live in northern Montana and never worry about the coop getting too cold. I would more worry about the coop having too much moisture. It is the moisture that will make your chickens cold, not the cold air. Chickens can make a lot of moisture in a coop at night by breathing and pooping. I have a 6 by 8 foot coop with 10 square feet of ventilation that is never closed. The chickens do fine. They are wrapped in that wonderful down jacket. Have never lost a chicken in the winter. Coop is not insulated. Water and food is kept outside in the run that is roofed and has 3 sizes covered in clear vinyl during the winter to keep breezes off the birds. Our normal winters have temperatures down into the -20s F. Chickens don't mind the cold.

Is your ventilation in the form of windows? I read somewhere not to let the coop get drafty. It’s not that cold here but does get hot. I want to cut some windows in, the question is should I have the option to close them again? Or just make vents a different way?

 

[Clglantz]

The top is vented on three sides like this.

 

[Clglantz]

The board in this photo is going on the top half of the open space, and the bottom left was to be wire mesh. The bottom left is the door to close them in.

 

[Clglantz]

Follow up question. The girls are about 7 weeks old. Once this is done, can they go in it without worry about cold? It’s getting to about 50 degrees at night.