HUGE disagreement about ridge venting in coop

[GinaNew York]

yesterday, I found out that the coop we're building had ridge vents placed in the roof and also in the roof of the run - I've been researching building coops extensively, and had not heard of this. I researched and found this video/article https://www.skedaddlewildlife.com/raccoons-using-ridge-vent-to-enter-attics/ which clearly shows the dangers of wildlife, raccoons, squirrels, etc. getting in through the ridge vent - what has been the experience of those of you that have ridge vents in your coops over time?

 

[Ridgerunner]

What kind of ridge vent do you have, metal or shingle-over? If you have metal and it's properly attached, stop worrying about that. If it is shingle-over, there is some risk. That advertisement carefully doesn't mention the metal ones. They can make money by scaring people.

How much snow do you get? Will that ridge vent be covered so it can't work? Ridge vents are tremendous in summer but they aren't really designed to give you any ventilation in heavy snows. I'd still want some alternate ventilation if you have heavy snows, maybe from soffit or gable vents.

 

[flyin-lowe]

I have a metal roof with a ridge vent. When I put my roofing on it stops about 4 inches short of the peak on each side. I stapled hardware cloth over the opening before putting my ridge cap on so nothing could get in via that opening.

 

[flyin-lowe]

Here's a link to the thread when I built my coop. If you go to page two you can see a picture I took looking down the peak of the roof that shows how I did mine.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-got-started-on-my-coop-today-90-finished.1082634/page-2

 

[GinaNew York]

thank you both, I'm told the vent is plastic but the peak of the roof isn't open completely, it has an inch on each side of a center beam. my daughter said they plan to put the 1/2 x 1/2 on the inside along the two beams on each side of the vent. I hope that works because this coop is only feet from the edge of the woods - do you have insulation in the peak rafters?

 

[flyin-lowe]

I have a vapor barrier that was left over when I built my pole barn. It has a little insulation value but that is not why I used it. I have seen some metal buildings in my area where the roofs will sweat and drip down depending on the weather. I've only been at this for a year or so but I felt that insulation would cause more problems then it would do good. Many people stated as long as there chickens are kept out of the wind the cold in itself they can handle. I know this winter we had a few nights where the wind chill temps were 20-30 below zero with actual temps below zero. The windows on my coop were open all winter, the eaves are open as well as the ridge vent. I have seen coops further north then I that are open on one side and they do fine. Based on that and some input from others I didn't feel insulation was needed.