Is one coop wall made of hardware cloth and wrapped n a tarp good enough?

[rosemarythyme]

So a vent that is 2 or 3ft x 11ft is not too much for all year ventilation?

I have around 32 sq ft of ventilation in a 6x10 that's open most of the year. I only close up a tiny bit during periods of snow as one of my roosts sits between two windows.

 

[CindyinSD]

I added two small gable end vents when I moved my 17 hens to their emergency winter quarters. It’s been just fine ventilation-wise, but the metal (former) tool shed isn’t all that tight.

Which way does your open wall face? Hopefully it doesn’t face into your prevailing winds. Other than that I see no problem at all. If it gets to 1 degree above zero I leave the sliding barn doors wide open (barring a south wind—those are the worst.) Chickens are tough little critters.

 

[Chikwhisperer]

Hi! This is my first chicke coop! So excited. Ive done months of research to make it th safest home for my babies. Obviously, life experience is th real research i need to tap! I have an odd shaped wood shed i am converting to a coop.it is 11’ x ‘3.5’ . Awkward, right? It was going to be pretty easy as the roof and 3 sides were all built strong... then I ended up with more chicks that’s i had planned. Now i have to make it larger! I am extending it to 7 feet long, ad it will end up about 6.5 feet tall in the front (backside dips to 4 feet). I don’t have a lot of money (or carpentry skills).. so i came up with a plan to continue with wood along the sides BUT the largest wall, the front wall, frame in all hardware cloth and cover it entirely in a heavy duty weatherproof tarp. The top foot will be left just hardware for ventilation (1’ x11’) and there will be vents along sides as well. I have 13 babies: 5 buff Orpington, 2 olive eggers (1 of which I am guessing is a roo), 2 Cochins, and 4 Easter eggers. My biggest concern is, will that wall (which is the largest) keep my babies insulated from the weather safely?? They will have a fenced in run (that is not covered) for them during the day.
BTW.. I live in Northern California

Here is my rough draft.. its only the floor plan and the south side but you get the draft

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My 2.5 week olive egger Raven.. pretty sure she is a he you should see his meaty legs! he’s is just fabulous and so friendly! I just put my hand out and he walks right up and hops on. They are all so friendly!

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Anyways, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVICE!!!!!

Please get the smallest hardware cloth!! Bury it 2’ deep attached to run and place in an outward position bury with dirt. I believe my husband came from inside of framed run then attached at base continued outward the 2’ dn & buried with the dirt. We haven’t had a problem the whole run ceiling to btm & out is of that smallest hard cloth. Even the roof which is the drk corrugated plastic panels to walls are sealed from within to out with it. I hope I explained it correctly. It was all attatched with a staple gun (air compressor).

 

[Chikwhisperer]

What am I doing wrong my reply is above I hit reply above & that’s where it went?