low level ventilation..............

[Firemenlovechicks]

Hey gang!

I have been finishing my build this weekend, my coop is 8' tall in the front, 6' tall in the back, 16' long, and 8' deep. The roof is flat and the entire area underneath it is open for ventilation. I also have a large window across the front that if roughly 12' long by 18" tall and it is open at all times. I will be using deep litter directly on the ground. Here is my question:


I have got a couple of temperature controlled house vents (the kind that you use around the foundation of your home).... they automatically open above 45 degrees and close when temps drop below that. I thought about putting these near ground level to help create a light draft which would help keep the litter dry. Does this sound like a good idea or will I create problems with too much draft for the birds? I have LOTS of ventilation around the top, this would just be a little something extra at ground level to help dry the litter.

Thanks all!


Jeff

 

[wildorchid053]

during the summer my coop is opened all the way.. vents, windows, pop doors. but in the winter i close most of it down and make sure what is open does not blow a draft on the chickens.. if yours will close in the winter then i don't see a problem with them

 

[patandchickens]

In general I'm not a big fan of low-on-the-walls vents... if it's cold, you don't want them open, and if it's warm, you're usually better off having a large (most of the wall) opening, IMHO.

That said, in your situation I shouldn't think it would be unreasonable to *try* the arrangement you propose, if you really want to, and see how you like it. By preference I'd just have a large panel or full-height window in the wall that I could open up, but it is possible that you might still get some useful results from your vents, I dunno, let us know what happens

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[1newchickontheblock]

So top to bottom windows are ok (for warm weather use)? I have some new vinyl casement windows from a job at my house - I was thinking of putting a couple of these on the front of the coop, with the cranks on the outside (it will not be a walk-in coop) (and of course hardware wire for when they're open) Think these would be ok? (The front of the coop will be about 48", not counting the 18-24" it will be raised off the ground...

 

[Southernbelle]

I think they're a great idea. They open when it's warm and close when it's cooler than 45* - sounds great! The chickens won't have any cold drafts blowing on them. I'm not familar with the type you're talking about, are they predator proof? or can you install them with a layer of hardware cloth?

 

[possumqueen]

If they open when it's warm, then they're perfect. Heat rises, and it will draw cool air in from the ground level vents and create a cool breeze up for the girls. Especially in Tennessee.

But I'm with Southernbelle. Are they predator proof? I have snakes going in and out under my house, through the vents, and I like having them there because they eat the mice. But I wouldn't want them in with my chickens!

 

[Firemenlovechicks]

They are not predator proof, but I am adding hardware cloth on the INSIDE and the OUTSIDE....... this should take care of any potential predator problems.



Jeff