Looking for ventilation suggestions please?

[Ont_Chuck_78]

I know their are a lot of ventilation posts - however I am looking for specific recommendations based on my unique build. Thanks for you patience and assistance.

So here is a quick run-down of the coop - keep in mind I am in Northern Ontario winters do get cold so I am struggling for that ease and balance.

My coop is just under 4' X 8' built inside an existing steel barn, so 2 of the 4 walls are up against outside walls. I am attempting to minimize cutting the outside walls of the barn. Their is a window available within 5 feet of the coop.

So far I have the coop door for the chickens which is 10" X 10" - I made them a "mud room" let's call it that has a window and the exterior door which can be closed and their is a similar opening in the barn on the opposite side. I have attached a screenshot of my Sketchup to show you an ideal.

Their are a few windows in the barn that I have to work on the make sure they vent well - currently sealed. I plan on putting an exhaust vent on the far side of the coop (opposite the roosts) heading outside via the nearby window.

Any suggestions would be great. I am afraid it is too hot in that coop for the girls!

 

[Acre4Me]

Funny...we had this same discussion at our place: steel barn: coop inside or out? Outside won for us as the steel barn will protect from the winter winds. But there were already 2 windows and 2 dog doors cut into the steel building, making it very feasible since we wouldn't have had to cut any thing else into the wall. We get cold here as well, below zero at night is not uncommon in Jan Feb, with sometimes long stretches of 24/7 single digits to below zero. Guessing you winters are longer and colder.

How tall is your barn? Can you slant the roof of the coop so that warm air rises and leaves via a vent, and naturally draws in fresh air/ maybe from a lower vent inside your barn opposite from your upper vent. What is your plans for the roosts? roost bars with poop boards underneath or ladder style, or something else?

 

[Ont_Chuck_78]

Funny...we had this same discussion at our place: steel barn: coop inside or out? Outside won for us as the steel barn will protect from the winter winds. But there were already 2 windows and 2 dog doors cut into the steel building, making it very feasible since we wouldn't have had to cut any thing else into the wall. We get cold here as well, below zero at night is not uncommon in Jan Feb, with sometimes long stretches of 24/7 single digits to below zero. Guessing you winters are longer and colder.

How tall is your barn? Can you slant the roof of the coop so that warm air rises and leaves via a vent, and naturally draws in fresh air/ maybe from a lower vent inside your barn opposite from your upper vent. What is your plans for the roosts? roost bars with poop boards underneath or ladder style, or something else?

Oh my... Slanted roof the orientation of the coop in the barn that would work. Even if I just raise the existing roof 8 inches.

The Roosts are ladder on the far side. Which may cause some drafting as the slant would be opposite the roost?

Thanks

 

[Acre4Me]

Oh my... Slanted roof the orientation of the coop in the barn that would work. Even if I just raise the existing roof 8 inches.

The Roosts are ladder on the far side. Which may cause some drafting as the slant would be opposite the roost?

Thanks

So here is what we have done. It's more complete now, with a solid door, but you can see the ventilation on both sides. With the more extreme angle and open eaves (all covered in hardware cloth), plus the window on the east side (which we keep open about 1"), it is well ventilated. I do notice that when the birds go in at night, they generally roost on the side that is not directly in line with the door opening - they will avoid the draft. When the door is closed, they spread out along the roost bars. I think the window being open on the lower side draws in air from lower down and then it all leaves out of the top of the ventilation. Birds seem happy. They're nearly 13 weeks old. We will see how it goes when it starts to get colder. We will be putting electric into the coop for lighting.

 

[Ont_Chuck_78]

That looks great. The window is ingenious! That seems to be a shortfall in my coop - I cannot see inside without peeking in through the vents.

Everyone seems happy on my end so far. I will be working on some more ventilation over the weekend. One thing I have noticed is all my chickens are roosting on the highest possible roost. Not sure if that is an indication of heating/cooling comfort or just security comfort.

They are roaming the run freely and are in at night for bed without any coaxing. My next step is an automatic door and some added electronics. Definitely thinking of a cam!

 

[Acre4Me]

That looks great. The window is ingenious! That seems to be a shortfall in my coop - I cannot see inside without peeking in through the vents.

Everyone seems happy on my end so far. I will be working on some more ventilation over the weekend. One thing I have noticed is all my chickens are roosting on the highest possible roost. Not sure if that is an indication of heating/cooling comfort or just security comfort.

They are roaming the run freely and are in at night for bed without any coaxing. My next step is an automatic door and some added electronics. Definitely thinking of a cam!

Good to hear! Yes, chickens go to the highest possible spot. Unless they are low in the pecking order and then they might not be *allowed* by the top hen/rooster to be that high up. It’s nice that they put themselves “to bed”!

 

[aart]

The window is ingenious! That seems to be a shortfall in my coop - I cannot see inside without peeking in through the vents.
My next step is an automatic door and some added electronics. Definitely thinking of a cam!

Birds need the light and ventilation.......before electronics