New coop ventilation and lighting concerns

[Thekillertrout]

Good morning! I started building this coop (first time building...anything) about 3 weeks ago. It’s been a fun process that I have enjoyed taking my time on trying to get everything just right. With that being said I am now concerned that I didn’t allow for adequate natural light and possibly not enough ventilation. Along with the vents I installed on the windier sides, the rafters are open, and with the coop being enclosed in the run I plan on leaving the coop door open during warm months. What do you guys think?

 

[Thekillertrout]

Bump

 

[Topbless]

I love this coop but I think your season, weather will determine that. But still, to me its okay

 

[uktech]

Nice build, roughly same size hen house as the one I'm making. I don't own chickens yet and haven't completed my own build but from all the research I did, and continue to do, I would most certainly increase the number of vent holes. From the pictures I only see the one. You can also double up the vent holes as windows to let natural light in depending on how you design them.

Here is something similar to what I'm thinking of making along the top of mine. This image is a random example I found on the web:

Also here is a thread I was given which was really helpful regarding ventilation:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts.1048597/

Lastly it also depends where you live so people can give you more relevant advice.

I'm sure someone with a hell of a lot more experience will pop along soon enough.

Good luck with the build

 

[Thekillertrout]

I love this coop but I think your season, weather will determine that. But still, to me its okay

Thanks! We are in the Seattle area so not too hot or cold.

 

[Thekillertrout]

Nice build, roughly same size hen house as the one I'm making. I don't own chickens yet and haven't completed my own build but from all the research I did, and continue to do, I would most certainly increase the number of vent holes. From the pictures I only see the one. You can also double up the vent holes as windows to let natural light in depending on how you design them.

Here is something similar to what I'm thinking of making along the top of mine. This image is a random example I found on the web:
View attachment 2157514

Also here is a thread I was given which was really helpful regarding ventilation:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts.1048597/

Lastly it also depends where you live so people can give you more relevant advice.

I'm sure someone with a hell of a lot more experience will pop along soon enough.

Good luck with the build

Although there are 2 vents (one on each side) I was considering pretty much that exact design placed above my clean out doors. The only thing causing me hesitation is that the ceiling rafters are completely open and getting more air flow through the top seems unnecessary. Thanks for thinking about me!

 

[uktech]

the ceiling rafters are completely open

now that you mention it, and looking closely at the pics, I'd say ventilations is more than enough, but I may stand corrected. Maybe change that big vent to a dual purpose window/vent of some sort? otherwise looks ok

 

[rosemarythyme]

I am now concerned that I didn’t allow for adequate natural light and possibly not enough ventilation. Along with the vents I installed on the windier sides, the rafters are open, and with the coop being enclosed in the run I plan on leaving the coop door open during warm months.

The easiest and most obvious place to add ventilation here is in the wall (walls?) facing into the run, due to the fact that the roof provides a lot of protection. Assuming I'm seeing it right that you have two inside walls, you could open up quite a lot of both those walls and just cover with hardware cloth - that'll provide a lot of air and some natural light inside. Never gets cold enough around Seattle to worry about it being too cold even if you add quite a bit of ventilation, provided that neither wall faces into a primary wind direction (if that's the reason for the louvered cover there, then I'd focus on putting ventilation around/above pop door side instead).

Here is something similar to what I'm thinking of making along the top of mine. This image is a random example I found on the web:
View attachment 2157514

One point with that image, if you're considering something similar... better to TOP hinge the window, and then prop or hang it open, rather than bottom hinge. Top hinging it provides some degree of weather protection.

 

[Thekillertrout]

I am going to monitor the temps inside the coop and if need be I’ll cut a hinged door next to the coop entrance. I read somewhere that I should try not to place vents in line with their roosts to avoid them getting too cold in the winter. I’ve also seen totally open coops in midwestern states. Trying to keep them dry more than anything so that is why I used the louvered vents and avoided openings at the clean out door/double door side. It was only 70 today but I sat in it with the doors closed for a while and it is much cooler than it is outside and seems to be bright enough. In the end I guess I am still thinking about the amount of light but I may supplement in the future anyway and I assume that in the correct spectrum and lumen count it could serve the same purpose. Sorry. I’m rambling. Thanks for the great insights.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I read somewhere that I should try not to place vents in line with their roosts to avoid them getting too cold in the winter.

Since we live in same general area... my top roost is sandwiched between two windows (1 visible here, other is on the exact other side matching in height/location). I last closed the windows during the "snowmaggedon". Even in winter some of my birds will cozy right up against the windows.



All that said, adding more windows/vents later on isn't too difficult, so keep monitoring the light/temps inside the coop and you should do fine. Glad you have the rafters open because that's really the most ideal place to start (up high), so adding additional ventilation might not be essential, but I freely admit I like a well ventilated coop.