ISO Ventilation advice: Small coop & small flock in windy MA

[mapurcel]

Hi all, I built a coop for the first time this summer. It is 4X6 feet with a slanted sunturf roof. The highest wall is 5ft, lowest is 4ft.

The front and back both get wind so to prevent drafts I sealed the gaps. It is here I find myself in a pickle when it comes to ventilation.

The windows in the coop are basically roost level, much too low. The natural gaps from the roof were too likely to bring in rain and drafts.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a draft free ventilation system for 5 bantams in such a small coop that? I don’t want them to be cold but I also want to make sure their lungs aren’t at risk. Some have been sneezing and have dirty nostrils.

I read an article on here that said 1 foot of ventilation per bird in the coop but I can’t possibly do that with such a small coop.... right?

I’m including photos. Please feel free to leave winterizing advice too since I’m in the middle of that process as well lol


Thanks for always helping me out!

 

[RoosterML]

In all honesty you shouldn’t have sealed up the roof the way you did.
You can cut out the triangle on each side and use hardware cloth. Save the piece cut out to act as a flap if driving rains happen.
First I would start with removing the spray foam on the short and tall wall and see how that does by itself. The waves in the roof panels are great for ventilation.

 

[Alaskan]

In all honesty you shouldn’t have sealed up the roof the way you did.
You can cut out the triangle on each side and use hardware cloth. Save the piece cut out to act as a flap if driving rains happen.
First I would start with removing the spray foam on the short and tall wall and see how that does by itself. The waves in the roof panels are great for ventilation.
View attachment 2396969

X2 on taking out the part colored in red, above.

And x2 on the baffle if needed. You can also make louver type things to go over the red triangle area.

Another option,

(not sure why you have plastic over the windows?)

I would pop out the strip of wood above the windows, the red area I colored in. That looks to me low enough that the roof would keep out rain etc.

Also, that yellow area, pretty much all of the eves, could also be popped out and replaced with hardware cloth. The eves, being well... eves.... tend to be a good place for vents since being directly under the roof can easily be vents that are protected from rain and snow.

 

[mapurcel]

In all honesty you shouldn’t have sealed up the roof the way you did.
You can cut out the triangle on each side and use hardware cloth. Save the piece cut out to act as a flap if driving rains happen.
First I would start with removing the spray foam on the short and tall wall and see how that does by itself. The waves in the roof panels are great for ventilation.
View attachment 2396969

Right. I feared that may be the best option to start. I can’t remove the tall wall since it already has shown signs of a leak.
I will remove the lower walls insulation.

 

[mapurcel]

X2 on taking out the part colored in red, above.

And x2 on the baffle if needed. You can also make louver type things to go over the red triangle area.

Another option,
View attachment 2397055View attachment 2397056

(not sure why you have plastic over the windows?)

I would pop out the strip of wood above the windows, the red area I colored in. That looks to me low enough that the roof would keep out rain etc.

Also, that yellow area, pretty much all of the eves, could also be popped out and replaced with hardware cloth. The eves, being well... eves.... tend to be a good place for vents since being directly under the roof can easily be vents that are protected from rain and snow.

Thank you!

 

[Alaskan]

Oh, as to the tarp over the run... I would worry a bit about a heavy snow making it all collapse....

Watch it super closely.

 

[21hens-incharge]

The plastic on top of the run.....that will get weighed down by snow and rain possibly destroying the run.

I think in addition to coop venting that needs addressed.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Oh, as to the tarp over the run... I would worry a bit about a heavy snow making it all collapse....

Watch it super closely.

Posted while I was reading and looking at the pics.

I agree 100%.

 

[rosemarythyme]

x3 on opening up the triangular part on either side under the roof. You can make hinged panels like this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-coop-is-done-now-for-the-run.1381538/ to provide climate protection on windy days.

 

[Sueby]

Your coop looks like my little integration/quarantine coop, only a little bigger - I left the triangles open & it works well. I live in CT so it gets cold in the winter. They get no breeze on the roost but it's good ventilation. The front window also has hardware cloth & the big door has a HC screen for the summer.

As suggested I'd at least save the cutouts in case of a blizzard or something. I haven't needed to put anything there, the overhang is bigger than it looks & it's never had any weather inside from the triangles.