More Ventalation ?

[birdlady79]

My coop is extremally hot inside.... We have hardly any shade.... Since this picture I have opened up the whole bottom section with hardwire.... It's still not getting air flow... I have 2 windows in front that are open , plus the sides which are pictured..... Were going out of town for 4 days and I know it will smell like ammonia after we get back...... Any suggestions on improving air flow?

 

[Judy]

Yup. Another layer of shade with air in between might help -- perhaps a tarp, or a roof on poles, over your coop. It still might not be enough, though. You may have to switch to a 3 sided setup, attached to a wire enclosed area, as done in the pics in the thread linked below. I would think you could use parts of your coop to make the solid or rainproof part, and build from there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/163417/please-show-me-your-hot-weather-coops/0_20

 

[aatx]

Can you open up the back any to provide some cross ventilation?

 

[birdlady79]

Yup.  Another layer of shade with air in between might help -- perhaps a tarp, or a roof on poles, over your coop.  It still might not be enough, though.  You may have to switch to a 3 sided setup, attached to a wire enclosed area, as done in the pics in the thread linked below.  I would think you could use parts of your coop to make the solid or rainproof part, and build from there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/163417/please-show-me-your-hot-weather-coops/0_20

Thx for pics!! That might be an option .. I like how some of those are done...

aatx
Can you open up the back any to provide some cross ventilation?

I did open the bottom portion of back... But my hubby just left the door on there to kinda make a shade spot in afternoon..it's chained to roof right now... Id love to open the whole back up but not sure how I would do that bc I have to open it daily to clean.... It seems like I should have enough ventilation with all that's open buts it's HOT in there ... I couldn't feel any air yesterday when cleaning... We do have woods behind our house and get a decent breeze but it's not circulating through coop....

 

[JanetS]

I've been thinking of puting a covered vent on the roof of our chicken coop.

 

[subhanalah]

Could you make the back wall hinged, so it lifts up (and secures somehow) or drops down? Then at night you can close it up?
Guess that doesn't really help them if you are late letting them out.
Sorry I couldn't help

 

[birdlady79]

Could you make the back wall hinged, so it lifts up (and secures somehow) or drops down? Then at night you can close it up?
Guess that doesn't really help them if you are late letting them out.
Sorry I couldn't help

It's ok ... Thanks for advise.... I let them out through the run door so that wouldn't matter.... DH is going to kill me if I ask to take walls down.... Lol....Do you think I could add more vent holes? Like towards the top of coop...

 

[LPeaslee]

If you can insulate the roof, it will make a world of difference. But remember to cover the insulation so it doesn't become dinner.

 

[birdlady79]

If you can insulate the roof, it will make a world of difference. But remember to cover the insulation so it doesn't become dinner.

Thank you!! We had talked about that when building the coop... But didn't do it... I should have raised the roof so air could go underneath..... I'm pretty sure I can isolate it to where they won't eat it.....

 

[kevinmccal]

I'd recommend the "reflective technology" insulation. I use it and it makes a WORLD of difference. It is better than the fiberglass insulation and it is basically bubble wrap with aluminum on both sides. That's the easiest way to describe it. It's like the stuff NASA uses on satellites and other things that could overheat or freeze while in space. It is very inexpensive. Here is a link to it at Lowes: http://www.lowes.com/pd_13353-56291...rentURL=?Ntt=reflective+insulation&facetInfo=


I'm building a new coop and am using it on the walls as well as the underside of the roof. My coop is in very little shade as well. Good luck!