How to provide adequate ventilation without getting coop wet?

[User4477]

Hello, this is my first time owning chickens and this is their first winter. Where I live, the winds are brutal (70 mph gusts, 30-40 mph winds) and it rains and snows throughout the winter. I wrapped my coop and run with plastic sheets to keep the wind and the elements out and kept the entire door area unwrapped to provide ventilation.

Now, the coop I feel does not have enough ventilation- it has a window in the back but when I have it open, the coop gets soaked. So I had it closed and just had their coop door open slightly to allow SOME ventilation during the nights, but now I have a sick rooster with crd and another rooster with beginnings of frostbite. Most likely because there still isn't enough ventilation, and the only ventilation they do have is level with where they sleep, not above them.

I honestly don't know how to provide adequate ventilation without allowing rain and snow inside the coop. I just finished putting a wooden board holding the window open and tried putting plastic on the sides, but I feel like even this isn't enough, it will allow it to get wet inside, and one wind gust will blow it down.

Any help/advice?

 

[Silexian]

Build an awning for the window.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yeah you do need a lot more ventilation. A tiny coop like this is hard to properly ventilate and you've got the run mostly wrapped up too. Even in a cold environment you want 1 sq ft of ventilation per bird in the coop, and that window is maybe... 2 sq ft? No other vents in the coop other than that correct?

Which direction is your primary wind direction? Are you having any issues leaving the door uncovered like that? If not, might want to consider opening up that entire run wall.

As far as the coop portion, the most obvious thing to do is remove the entire inside wall facing into the run or replace it with wire, as the roof will provide a lot of protection. But that only helps if there's enough ventilation in the run.

 

[User4477]

Yeah you do need a lot more ventilation. A tiny coop like this is hard to properly ventilate and you've got the run mostly wrapped up too. Even in a cold environment you want 1 sq ft of ventilation per bird in the coop, and that window is maybe... 2 sq ft? No other vents in the coop other than that correct?

Which direction is your primary wind direction? Are you having any issues leaving the door uncovered like that? If not, might want to consider opening up that entire run wall.

As far as the coop portion, the most obvious thing to do is remove the entire inside wall facing into the run or replace it with wire, as the roof will provide a lot of protection. But that only helps if there's enough ventilation in the run.

Yep, that is correct, that's the only vent so far. I haven't had any issues leaving the door uncovered, however, rain does fall into the coop on the side next to the door, hence the plastic.

The chickens sleep on a perch at the coop door level, so they're right in front of the door when sleeping. Do you think it would be okay leaving the entire coop door open all night? They wouldn't get too cold/drafty with the opening being right in front of them?

 

[User4477]

Yep, that is correct, that's the only vent so far. I haven't had any issues leaving the door uncovered, however, rain does fall into the coop on the side next to the door, hence the plastic.

The chickens sleep on a perch at the coop door level, so they're right in front of the door when sleeping. Do you think it would be okay leaving the entire coop door open all night? They wouldn't get too cold/drafty with the opening being right in front of them?

I forgot to mention it gets in the mid-20 degrees Fahrenheit during the night and 40's during the day

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yep, that is correct, that's the only vent so far. I haven't had any issues leaving the door uncovered, however, rain does fall into the coop on the side next to the door, hence the plastic.

The chickens sleep on a perch at the coop door level, so they're right in front of the door when sleeping. Do you think it would be okay leaving the entire coop door open all night? They wouldn't get too cold/drafty with the opening being right in front of them?

How many birds do you have? If it's like 2-3 birds the pop door + the window might be enough, however it's not ideal as ventilation really should be up higher (though that might not be possible here since there's simply no extra wall space for it).

As far as possibility of draft you would have to test for that, by using a light ribbon or something similar held at approximately where the chickens would be sitting on the roost on a typical windy day. Some slight/moderate movement of the ribbon is ok, but noticeable fluttering is a draft.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

Where, in general, are you? Climate matters, especially for housing.

Do your winter winds come from one particular direction? If so, you can open vents on the downwind side.

Some people baffle their windows with furnace filter.

Long term -- adding roof overhangs and putting in soffit and ridge or gable vents is what you need. But for now try opening up some of the wall from the coop into the run and removing the plastic from the top few inches of the run.

It's horribly redneck, but I made awnings for my brooder vent from scrap pieces of metal siding (the brooder is a converted run):

 

[Silexian]

I have rebuilt some of those little coops like that. To house pairs and trios. It is usually just a triangle shaped piece of 1/4 inch luan that separates the coop from the run. You can replace that piece with hardware clothe. That will give you weather protected ventilation that is above where your chickens roost.

 

[linguini]

I'll do exactly what @3KillerBs suggested above. We have a cube/run and that's how I wrapped it, completely wrapped two windy sides this year, and leave 1-2 ft top open on the other two sides, and use plastic sheets as a make shift awning (1ft),
You can use this for the door ($9.99 from Homedepot)

https://www.homedepot.com/p/MacCour...VSilMCh1P9AZoEAQYASABEgK11PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[U_Stormcrow]

this is why so many of us recommend under eave ventilation at the top of the coops - its wind and water protected, easily predator protected, can be left open 24/7/365, and is high enough up to guarantee no breezes on nesting or roosting birds.

Of course, much easier to build that way than to refit that way.

Good luck in your modifications!