Metal barn converted to coop - need more ventilation

[GreenAcres825]

This is our first year with our chickens, we have 13, and we have only had to buy minimal things to start our coop. We converted an old metal shed, added a new roof, and put doors on the front. Now our problem is that we don't have any windows and not much ventilation. The girls love being inside when the doors are open, but when the doors are closed, it is much too dark to see. They have not been roosting inside at night, or laying in the nest boxes. They prefer to lay their eggs in the duck house, or in the guinea fowl coop. I am not sure how to create more ventilation in our chicken coop, since the walls are thin metal and will not support a window. As the pictures show, we made a door with wood, so we were thinking possibly cutting a hole in the door and adding chicken wire, and putting plexiglass in during the winter.

Any thoughts, opinions, or experiences are welcome!
Thanks!

-Courtney

 

[junebuggena]

Just make several holes about 2 inches in diameter, every 6 inches or so along the roofline in the front and in the back. Cover the holes with hardware cloth, not chicken wire. Chicken wire is great at keeping chickens in, but will not keep predators out.

 

[junebuggena]

Also, the roosting bars are too narrow for an adult chicken's feet. 2x4s wide side up are best in places with cold winters. They can sit flat and keep their feet covered to help prevent frostbitten toes. They aren't spaced far enough apart either. The birds on the lower roosts will get pooped on by the birds above them.

 

[GreenAcres825]

Thank you! and this would not allow water into the coop, correct?

 

[junebuggena]

Unless it's pouring and the wind is blowing completely sideways, it will be fine. You can increase the roof overhang a bit if you're really worried about weather.

One of roofline vents on my coop. It's about 18inx10in. There are a few all the way around the coop. We get hurricane force winds and lots of rain, the inside stays dry.

 

[GreenAcres825]

Thank you so much, this will be very helpful for us! We have a decent overhang on the west side of the coop, so it will allow a good amount of afternoon sun in.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would put that window in the doors, and cut a small ventilation hole in the back so there is air flow through, you didn't say how cold your winters are, I agree with the 2x4 roosts, but I put the two up because the chickens seem to prefer it, unless you have rather large chickens, than the 4 is appropriate.

 

[GreenAcres825]

We live in NJ, our winters are sometimes very cold, but mostly just cold. We have several larger girls, the Jersey Giant's are the biggest though. Thank you for the advice, I think that a window in the door may have to be what we do because the walls are metal.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

And any sunlight through them will be appreciated on a cold winter day, and I would offer your big girls 2x4, with the four up so they can cover their feet well.

 

[junebuggena]

You'll need more than just windows on one side. A cross breeze needs to be created for adequate ventilation to move ammonia and moist air out of the coop. I think a window in the door would end up creating a draft at roosting height. The closer you can get vents to the roofline, the better.