New duck coop & ventilation

[BabyGotQuack]

Building a new coop and run for my little ladies and I’m needing some help/opinions.

Long story short there was a chicken coop here when we moved and we made it work for ducks but now 7 years later it needs replacing. I bought a playhouse to convert to a duck coop, it’s small, 4x4. I need to add some ventilation, our last one had a lot, too much in my opinion to where it was causing issues in rain and winter.

How much is enough? I was thinking of doing something like this. Is doing it on one side enough? Or how many sides should have it?

Any other solutions for venting a premade wood playhouse without being some fancy complicated set up?

 

[Jenbirdee]

Building a new coop and run for my little ladies and I’m needing some help/opinions.

Long story short there was a chicken coop here when we moved and we made it work for ducks but now 7 years later it needs replacing. I bought a playhouse to convert to a duck coop, it’s small, 4x4. I need to add some ventilation, our last one had a lot, too much in my opinion to where it was causing issues in rain and winter.

How much is enough? I was thinking of doing something like this. Is doing it on one side enough? Or how many sides should have it?
View attachment 4172537
Any other solutions for venting a premade wood playhouse without being some fancy complicated set up?

They need 1 square foot of opening covered with hardware cloth for each duck, the windows need to be higher than the ducks heads , up at top of walls.
I used a 6 x 8 wooden children’s playhouse and I cut windows in it all around and I covered with hardware cloth inside and out-2 layers just to be extra safe- let me see if I can find you a picture

in the winter I cover the bottom ventilation holes that I drilled in. It just needs them in the summer when it gets really hot because there isn’t enough shade in that area.

 

[BabyGotQuack]

They need 1 square foot of opening covered with hardware cloth for each duck, the windows need to be higher than the ducks heads , up at top of walls.
I used a 6 x 8 wooden children’s playhouse and I cut windows in it all around and I covered with hardware cloth inside and out-2 layers just to be extra safe- let me see if I can find you a picture

A picture would be awesome and thanks for the answer, that is exactly what I was looking for!

It’s got 2 windows in it already and yes it’s above their heads and I am covering with hardware cloth.

 

[Debbie292d]

Given that Utah is similar weather to us in WI, I think your duck house will work out well. You could figure out placement of this house and the vents according to the prevailing winds. IE., if most of your weather comes from the north and west, put more vents on the sides that will face south and east.

The hardware cloth is an excellent idea! I would worry those holes in the wood wouldn’t suffice and would rot in time due to moisture sitting on them.

 

[BabyGotQuack]

They need 1 square foot of opening covered with hardware cloth for each duck, the windows need to be higher than the ducks heads , up at top of walls.
I used a 6 x 8 wooden children’s playhouse and I cut windows in it all around and I covered with hardware cloth inside and out-2 layers just to be extra safe- let me see if I can find you a pictureView attachment 4172567View attachment 4172568

Wow that is awesome!

 

[BabyGotQuack]

Given that Utah is similar weather to us in WI, I think your duck house will work out well. You could figure out placement of this house and the vents according to the prevailing winds. IE., if most of your weather comes from the north and west, put more vents on the sides that will face south and east.

The hardware cloth is an excellent idea! I would worry those holes in the wood wouldn’t suffice and would rot in time due to moisture sitting on them.

Good call on the weather direction, I will take that into account!

 

[BabyGotQuack]

I appreciate everyone’s quick and helpful replies!

Next thing I need some help with is a ramp, I was hoping to not have a ramp on this coop but I wanted it off the ground (for wet/weather purposes) so it’s about 4”-5” high so we need a ramp. Our old one we built an extra wide wood ramp with a side rail. (Extra wide cause we have 2 pekins )

Is that the best option or anyone have some good ideas? I saw someone do some steps, opinions on steps vs ramp?

(Not a video, just a screenshot)