Need coop ventilation advice

[cheeperchick]

Here's a picture of my coop & run that we completed over the summer. It was a complete redesign and expansion. It has 3 3/4 walls. The 3/4 wall goes out to the run. Question...what can I do about ventilation in the coop? Everytime I go in to clean it out, dust starts flying everywhere and now I have this congested cough that won't go away. I'm starting to use a mask now when I clean it but I can only imagine how it affects the chooks.. what can I do to provide ventilation and also provide a draft free coop during the colder months??

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I never do any work in the coop without a mask. I buy big boxes of masks, cheaper by the dozen.

I don't worry about drafts because anecdotally I've seen birds live outside all winter (covered) and are quite healthy.
What they can't take is bad air. I would cut some big openings on any side that you have an overhang to keep rain out.
Cover them all with hardware cloth or expanded metal.

 

[cheeperchick]

Only side with an overhang goes out to the run... I was thinking of cutting and 2 openings...one on ea. wall and putting chicken wire over it then put some cheap metal overhang over the cutout?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If your run is predator proof you can take the whole run side wall out.

If you make any other openings, use something stronger than chicken wire. It keeps chickens in - not predators out.

 

[cheeperchick]

That sounds like a good idea..lol my uncle told me to leave that side open to the run but I insisted on having that partial wall. Lesson learned for me, doh!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

A partial wall isn't a bad idea to keep bedding in.