New Coop, 6' x 8' Shed Roof, Suggestions for Ventilation?

[DavidReaves]

I'm building a new, somewhat larger coop. Currently, I have 5 hens in a chicken tractor with a 4 x 4 coop and a 4 x 12 run. I'm adding an external run with 110 square feet of enclosed space rather than free-range. We have dogs, hawks, and owls, so they need a fully protected space.

The coop I'm planning is a walk-in shed, with 48 square feet of inside space. The sketch below shows the external layout, but I'd like suggestions on the best way to ventilate for summer heat. I like awning-style windows, with the top hinged and the bottom open but I'm open to other ideas too. My current coop has plywood awning windows that do a great job of protecting from rain now. I'll put a roost bar below the nest boxes and one opposite across the entire back of the shed. Both will be about 2 feet high, so there is plenty of overhead space for airflow.

This is what the awing windows on my current coop look like. The wooden dowel that props it open is on the other end. I have them open about half this much in rainy weather, and the inside seems to stay dry. If it's really hot they can be opened completely, but if I'm away I don't leave them fully open.

My initial thought is to put a 18" x 48" awning window on the front, beside the door. The back would possible have an 18" tall by 72" wide awning window, with each end having an 18" x 48" awning window. If my math is right, that would be 27 square feet of ventilation space with 6 sf being higher, in the front of the sloping roof, to encourage hot air to move up and out. Does that seem reasonable for a warm/hot climate?

 

[ChickinProblems]

We bought a vent from home improvement store that is open year round for fresh air. It’s for house ventilation apx 1ft by 3 inches.looks similar to the older floor vents.

 

[DavidReaves]

We bought a vent from home improvement store that is open year round for fresh air. It’s for house ventilation apx 1ft by 3 inches.looks similar to the older floor vents.

I use those on my nest boxes, to keep them from being complete ovens. They seem to work okay for that. I leave them open year round, too.

 

[DobieLover]

put a roost bar below the nest boxes

Putting the roosts below the nest box will practically guarantee birds will roost/poop in the nest boxes every night. Roosts should always be placed higher than the nest boxes.
Your plan for all those windows is great for ventilation. Back them with 1/2" hardware cloth.
My only additional recommendation is to use salvaged vinyl windows instead of plywood and frame out the openings accordingly. Letting lots of natural light into the coop is good.

 

[Ridgeback825]

I'm building a new, somewhat larger coop. Currently, I have 5 hens in a chicken tractor with a 4 x 4 coop and a 4 x 12 run. I'm adding an external run with 110 square feet of enclosed space rather than free-range. We have dogs, hawks, and owls, so they need a fully protected space.

The coop I'm planning is a walk-in shed, with 48 square feet of inside space. The sketch below shows the external layout, but I'd like suggestions on the best way to ventilate for summer heat. I like awning-style windows, with the top hinged and the bottom open but I'm open to other ideas too. My current coop has plywood awning windows that do a great job of protecting from rain now. I'll put a roost bar below the nest boxes and one opposite across the entire back of the shed. Both will be about 2 feet high, so there is plenty of overhead space for airflow.

View attachment 3382393


This is what the awing windows on my current coop look like. The wooden dowel that props it open is on the other end. I have them open about half this much in rainy weather, and the inside seems to stay dry. If it's really hot they can be opened completely, but if I'm away I don't leave them fully open.

View attachment 3382403

My initial thought is to put a 18" x 48" awning window on the front, beside the door. The back would possible have an 18" tall by 72" wide awning window, with each end having an 18" x 48" awning window. If my math is right, that would be 27 square feet of ventilation space with 6 sf being higher, in the front of the sloping roof, to encourage hot air to move up and out. Does that seem reasonable for a warm/hot climate?

I would think so. Here is our windows, very similar to what you have planned. There is another matching vent on the right side that has no door as its under the roof. We live in Florida, so it gets hot for extended times.

 

[mowin]

Hopefully this will give you some ideas..

I'm in the process of building a new coop that I'm hopefully I'll get done in the spring.

First pic is new coop in progress..I plan on leaving the top 12" where the siding ends, of the front (tall) side and the top 8" on the back side open, and covered with HC.

On the side of the coop I plan to hinge the top of the panel so it can be propped open. Same as I did with my old coop in the second pic.

Along with windows, I should have plenty of ventilation.

 

[Percheron chick]

You're in Texas. For ventilation just leave one side open covered in hardware cloth. If you want the option of closing up the side, hinge a plywood side over the hardware cloth that you can open during the summer creating more shade and close up when it's raining. I'm in Colorado and expanding my coop. 1/2 of one wall (4x8) will be open with expanded metal that I can partially cover with plastic in the winter.

 

[Chicnbones]

I'm building a new, somewhat larger coop. Currently, I have 5 hens in a chicken tractor with a 4 x 4 coop and a 4 x 12 run. I'm adding an external run with 110 square feet of enclosed space rather than free-range. We have dogs, hawks, and owls, so they need a fully protected space.

The coop I'm planning is a walk-in shed, with 48 square feet of inside space. The sketch below shows the external layout, but I'd like suggestions on the best way to ventilate for summer heat. I like awning-style windows, with the top hinged and the bottom open but I'm open to other ideas too. My current coop has plywood awning windows that do a great job of protecting from rain now. I'll put a roost bar below the nest boxes and one opposite across the entire back of the shed. Both will be about 2 feet high, so there is plenty of overhead space for airflow.

View attachment 3382393


This is what the awing windows on my current coop look like. The wooden dowel that props it open is on the other end. I have them open about half this much in rainy weather, and the inside seems to stay dry. If it's really hot they can be opened completely, but if I'm away I don't leave them fully open.

View attachment 3382403

My initial thought is to put a 18" x 48" awning window on the front, beside the door. The back would possible have an 18" tall by 72" wide awning window, with each end having an 18" x 48" awning window. If my math is right, that would be 27 square feet of ventilation space with 6 sf being higher, in the front of the sloping roof, to encourage hot air to move up and out. Does that seem reasonable for a warm/hot climate?

I left openings at the top on all 4 sides. Cover the openings with hardware cloth.

 

[3KillerBs]

Repecka Illustrates Coop Ventilation

My only additional recommendation is to use salvaged vinyl windows instead of plywood and frame out the openings accordingly. Letting lots of natural light into the coop is good.

As much as I respect your opinions, this is not necessarily appropriate for Texas -- unless the windows are shaded they'll create a greenhouse environment in the southern sun even when top-hinged and used as covers for the vents.

You're in Texas. For ventilation just leave one side open covered in hardware cloth.

Nailed it.

Hot climate chickens need maximum ventilation and Open Air style coops are optimal for our blistering heat in the southern parts of the US.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

 

[Raptor Chicken]

Windows do not equal ventilation. Ventilation is 24/7 air movement ABOVE the birds. Overhangs and other available openings are advisable.

Minimum of 1sqf per bird of ventilation.

Here are some examples from my coop build.