New coop need feedback on design please.

[Fire]

Im new to all this including building so dont be too hard on me. I need to know how to do the ventilation. In the one pic you can see the vent at the gable. I think I need to install vents at the base as well but dont know how big or what to do about the cold. I live in Missouri we get every kind of weather there is -10 to 105 the tin roof was recycled aka free but will it be too hot for the summer? I had thought to make the whole gabled part a flap that I can open in the summer and close in the winter, but the roost is at that level so what about storms and such. Anything else that I have missed or not thought of please let me know. It is still easy to change most things at this point its not trimmed or painted. Also if you can tell enough from the pics guess at the identity of my TSC mystery pullets

 

[dsowens15]

Design looks fine to me. I believe you don't want the ventilation level with the chickens... I think.

 

[elmo]

Here's the best discussion of the subject of ventilation that I know of:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-VENTILATION

In your coop design, it's going to be tricky since effectively the only place you can put the vents are the gables, and that limits the size of them. I wouldn't try putting vents down at the floor level for several reasons. To alleviate the problem of rain blowing into gable vents, get some more metal and extend the eaves. You'll probably need a vent on both gable ends to get enough ventilation.

I've read that condensation can collect on metal roofs in the winter. You may want to think about insulating the roof to deal with that.

Do you have a shady place in your yard to site the coop? That will help it from getting too hot in the summer.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Good advice. You don't want a low vent. Air will exchange via high vents just fine. And agree, you will want shade if at all possible.

 

[Fire]

I have lots of shade we have 3 acres and lots of big oak trees. There is a gable vent at both ends and the roof over hangs 6 inches on the back and 12 on the front. I can make them larger but was concerned about it being to close to the roost. Thanks for the link Im reading it now.

 

[chuckzoo]

Your coop design has similarities to mine.

Check out my page to see my ventilation. I have ventilation under the eves as well as the front and back gable. I am going to add more ventilation at the roof so I can close the eve ventilation in the winter. I do believe the tin roof will create condensation on your chickens in the winter so I would have some kind of vapour barrier between it and them.

Check out this picture;

 

[Fire]

They might be similar because yours is one I checked out on the coop pages. My double swing open doors I ripped off of your design

I didnt notice the vents under the eaves before though. Do they close up or you leave open all year? I may end up doing my run like yours as well so far I just have the bottom frame done for it. Do you like the peaked roof of the run?

 

[PapaChaz]

can't tell from the pics, but hardware cloth along the eaves will add some ventilation, and in winter would be easy enough to cut some plywood to slide inside over the top of it. how big is this? now that i built my full size coop, i'm thinking of building a smaller one for chicks. i've just gotten some ameraucana hens, thinking about getting an ameraucana roo for breeding and seriously thinking i'll keep my other layers separate, although if i cull/rehome my mixed breed roo i don't guess i'd have to

 

[chuckzoo]

I am flattered and glad you found something you could use from my design!

I have ventilation under all four of my eaves ( I added another coop section similar to the first one when they started to lay). The ventilation is covered with hardware cloth and in the winter I cover it with the type of stuff heavy duty grill covers are made out of. It is not plastic because cold will condense on plastic, but kind of a rubbery stuff.

The boards just under the two gables can also be removed which I do in the summer. They also have hardware cloth under them. Everything is screwed together so I can remove/add what I need to based on the season.

I am adding the roof vent (shown in the picture I posted) shortly. Yes, I do like the pitched roof on the run. I have added a nesting box over part of the run. It goes from the coop into the top part of the run.

They also have a much larger run as well.

If there is anything you need clarification on or a photo just let me know.

 

[Fire]

Quote:
Mine is 4x3 and is a large tractor I guess. I plan to move it around and later to build a larger permanent coop. I figured this would be good fo rwhile they are growing and faster to make than a big one. Im going to add some vents under the eaves thanks to the recomendations.