Need Coop Ventilation Advice

[sadie748]

I know this is a popular topic and I hate to repeat, but since each situation is different, here goes. I have a small "Cutest Coop" coop and three wonderful hens. I live in Nebraska and temps are extreme hot and cold. I was worried about the cold so we put in foam insulation. My lovely boyfriend put a digital thermometer in the coop that I could view inside our home. Now I see the humidity levels! They range from 50-80! We cut some vent holes and it seems to have helped slightly, but we're still pushing almost 80 percent humidity overnight. Would you suggest adding more airflow towards the top? Do we need to remove the foam insulation? Thanks, Sarah

 

[Chickensandhorsesforlife]

I would take out the foam and see what changes.

 

[CinnaBun]

Can you add a link to which coop you have?

Does it have cupola and can you can add vents too?

 

[sadie748]

https://cutestcoops.com/collections/shop-chicken-coops/products/the-charming-coop

It does have a cupola -- for looks only. But we might consider making it functional. We added holes at the top covered by hardware wire (east west walls).

 

[3KillerBs]

https://cutestcoops.com/collections/shop-chicken-coops/products/the-charming-coop

It does have a cupola -- for looks only. But we might consider making it functional. We added holes at the top covered by hardware wire (east west walls).

A functional cupola would be excellent.

Draft-free ventilation is what cupolas are FOR.

P.S. the usual guideline is 1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation per adult, standard-sized chicken.

 

[aart]

Do we need to remove the foam insulation?

Is the foam covering any vents?
If not, leave it in.
If it's under the metal roof, it will help block condensation.

A functional cupola would be excellent.

Yes, go out and cut a hole in the roof, smaller than the outside of cupola to avoid leaking.

 

[Alaskan]

I am a little worried that if the cupola wasnt made to be functional... that maybe it isn't sealed onto the roof for weather? So would maybe leak?

No idea .. but that might be a summer project.

It might be easier to just open up the top triangle areas, so where I colored in with red:

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

I am a little worried that if the cupola wasnt made to be functional... that maybe it isn't sealed onto the roof for weather? So would maybe leak?

No idea .. but that might be a summer project.

It might be easier to just open up the top triangle areas, so where I colored in with red:

View attachment 2541086

VERY good point about the cupola not being weather tight. If it were me, I would probably cut out the parts you highlighted AND under the cupola and go after it HARD with some calk, Flex-Seal or something.

I just looked at the pictures again, is it just me, or does the cupola look like it doesn;t even have any "openings" in it? (On the sides that can be seen in the pictures at least.)

 

[spartacus_63]

My coop in central Iowa is also insulated, but I have a massive roof vent. My humidity is a little higher than I would like, but the outside humidity is 85%. My birds do fine and I never have had frost in the coop.

 

[21hens-incharge]

What is the humidity outside the coop?

No matter how many vents you have you won't be able to get inside humidity lower than what it is outside.

I shoot for being within 5% of what it is outside the coop. If it is more than 5% higher inside I clean all poops and open it every sunny moment we get.

Keeping water outside the coop will help a lot.