Is this too much ventilation?

[3KillerBs]

That's going to be a huge opening. Just worried about the cold weather. The wind chill is the worrying factor here as it is called the windy city afterall. Is this what people in cold climates do too?

That's why you put the ventilation at the top of the coop, well above the birds' heads when they're on the roost.

But you can probably get the best advice on your state thread, especially if you find others in your particular area.

 

[Rldad1]

I'm guessing from your photo that there are just five 8'x2" ventilation strips. That's 40/6 sq.ft., that's less than 7 sq.ft., barely enough for 7 chickens. For 15 chickens, the strips should be 4.5" high.

I agree. Make the top ventilation 6" all the way around the coop and you won't have a problem. Remember chickens wear a down coat all the time. Stick your hand under all those feathers and find the heat.

 

[notachickennut]

Hello all!
In the process of building a 4'x8'x4' coop and have a long strip of 2"x8' ventilation strip at the top. Is this too much ventilation for 15 chickens? I know the coop is smaller for 15 but am trying to maximize by how the roost bars are located until we relocate out of state. I was thinking of just closing off the smaller triangle pieces and just leaving that long strip open. We also live in Chicago so I'm not sure if this is too much ventilation in relation to the cold winter here. Or would it work better if I just let the middle 2 joists open for winter, than open all 5 joist slots for maximum summer ventilation? Please help, flockView attachment 2841298

While drop downs to close that space off in winter is tempting, you will still need ventilation. Are you covering these openings with hardware cloth?
We staple plastic over our open ends (seen in profile pic, the white thing is the slide down door) in the winter but still leave the eaves wide open. What you want to limit is drafts & moisture (drafts + moisture = frostbite). Also if you make your roost bars out of 2x4s then the chickens can squat down over their feet covering them with their feathers & keep the cold at bay.

 

[notachickennut]

Thank you. My flock consists of 11 australorps and 4 barred rocks and the ability of these breeds to handle cold weather was the deciding factor for me. I am also going to incorporate a heat lamp on the very cold nights(0F or below) to help.

Be very, very careful with heat lamps. Chickens really don’t need them as they are wearing the original down jackets.
I‘ve seen too many pictures posted by grief stricken flock owners of coops that have burned down in the night. I always caution against heat lamps. If you’re experiencing extreme below freezing cold a better option is a brooder plate. No hot lamp bulb with dust collected on it to catch fire.

 

[aart]

That's going to be a huge opening. Just worried about the cold weather. The wind chill is the worrying factor here as it is called the windy city afterall. Is this what people in cold climates do too?

A good way to slow the wind and block wind driven snow is to install some thick furnace filter material in the openings.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ventilation-baffling.75434/

 

[goldenyears]

Hello all!
In the process of building a 4'x8'x4' coop and have a long strip of 2"x8' ventilation strip at the top. Is this too much ventilation for 15 chickens? I know the coop is smaller for 15 but am trying to maximize by how the roost bars are located until we relocate out of state. I was thinking of just closing off the smaller triangle pieces and just leaving that long strip open. We also live in Chicago so I'm not sure if this is too much ventilation in relation to the cold winter here. Or would it work better if I just let the middle 2 joists open for winter, than open all 5 joist slots for maximum summer ventilation? Please help, flockView attachment 2841298

This coop that’s almost done has 2x4 rafters that are open on all four sides. Gable sides have triangular opening. The other main coop is similar. Roosts are situated where they can see out windows. Industrial hemp deep litter floor which helps mitigate moisture.

 

[Craigatcsi]

Thank you. My flock consists of 11 australorps and 4 barred rocks and the ability of these breeds to handle cold weather was the deciding factor for me. I am also going to incorporate a heat lamp on the very cold nights(0F or below) to help.

If you use a heat lamp, they will not acclimate to the cold as well. And if power goes out in the coop, the cold would be much harder on them. It is best to have no heater and plenty of ventilation, without any drafts. Drafts are a big deal when it is cold. We live in Omaha, NE and our chickens handled -15*F just fine last winter.

 

[Craigatcsi]

Hello all!
In the process of building a 4'x8'x4' coop and have a long strip of 2"x8' ventilation strip at the top. Is this too much ventilation for 15 chickens? I know the coop is smaller for 15 but am trying to maximize by how the roost bars are located until we relocate out of state. I was thinking of just closing off the smaller triangle pieces and just leaving that long strip open. We also live in Chicago so I'm not sure if this is too much ventilation in relation to the cold winter here. Or would it work better if I just let the middle 2 joists open for winter, than open all 5 joist slots for maximum summer ventilation? Please help, flockView attachment 2841298

Another thing about your openings, make sure to cover them with hardware cloth. We had a coon get in our coop thru one of those openings. - Make sure to secure the hardware cloth very well. I have heard of coons pulling staples out to get thru.

 

[aart]

View attachment 2847111
This coop that’s almost done has 2x4 rafters that are open on all four sides. Gable sides have triangular opening. The other main coop is similar. Roosts are situated where they can see out windows. Industrial hemp deep litter floor which helps mitigate moisture.

Cool windows, @goldenyears , do they open?
Putting some fascia on the ends of the rafters will help break the wind blowing in.

 

[springchicken66]

I think you have done a marvelous job of ventilating your coop. The only thing I would be concerned about is that the vents need to have hard wire across them. They are perfect spaces for raccoons or other critters to crawl through. Having that problem myself - I know of what I speak !! Kudos on taking such good care of your chickens