newbie with a vent question

[rockwoodchicken]

Hi all. We are picking up our first ever chicks on monday and are in the process of coop building. I have read a lot abt ventilation as i know it is important and i have a question.

What do you do with the vents in the winter? I am planning to put the vents high up. Our coop will be 16 sq ft. With nesting boxes on the outside. I know it is bad if they get a draft and i have read that ppl put plexiglass to cover the vents in winter....is this correct? So there is no ventilation in winter? Or do u just clise them on very cold days?
Thanks so much
Lisa

 

[saellis]

Ventilation in winter is still important but you have the added challenge of avoiding cold drafts blowing directly on the birds. I found THIS ARTICLE to be very helpful

 

[rockwoodchicken]

Great thanks!!

Ok so here is a stupid question.....how is a cross vent not considered a draft??

 

[fisherlady]

Great thanks!!

Ok so here is a stupid question.....how is a cross vent not considered a draft??

Cross ventilation can be a draft if the intake and output are placed wrong and a birds roost (in particular) are directly in line with air flow. When done correctly your 'cross ventilation' allows for air to be exchanged without a 'breeze' being created or keeping the 'breezy' area away from major points in the coop.

By placing baffles (think of the vent covers in your house and how they have louvres) over the opening it allows air flow in, but the flow is directed up or down so air flow or 'breeze' isn't directly onto your birds. You still get air exchange, but not breezes.
Cross ventilation also works best if you are getting your fresh air in at the bottom and the output around eave height or so. Since warm air rises you can have a very gentle but constant exchange of air this way.

and BTW.... it is NOT a stupid question! No such thing!

 

[AmpersatChick]

That is the same question I've had. I'm still new, our first ever chicks are still in a brooder. But my understanding is that cross ventilation is air exchange and draft blows right on them. In warm weather it is ok for them to feel a breeze but not when it is cold. Something I read said if would be like having the lower 2 ft solid boards so they can get a block from the wind. Not sure this helps and again, this is just read knowledge, I don't yet have practical experience!

 

[Alaskan]

One suggestion I found very useful to help with the vent verses draft problem.....is put a string (either a real one, or just mentally) between each vent in the coop.

If one of those strings crosses the perch area....then that is bad!

Also.....just how cold do your winters get? If they get zero or lower for more than a day, I would greatly suggest insulating the coop.

Just imagine going outside in the winter with no coat. Now imagine going outside with no coat but a warm hat. Just the warm hat makes a giant difference even if you didn't put on the coat.


Other points....if your winters get really cold.....

I just CAN'T have lots of eave vents (which are common to southern coops), because since hot air rises, ALL of the warmth of the coop leaves.

I have now set up my coop so that the two vents open onto a much airier shed. (My location is also very windy, which makes even a tiny hole into an arctic blast). The vents opening onto the shed means that the coop gets vented, but the vents are protected from wind. One of the two vents is a long rectangle close to the top of the coop, and the other vent is a pretty large chicken door that is always open between the coop and shed.

I also have two windows in the coop, but they are only open in the summer on very hot days. The little north one I do usually have open half way unless it gets very cold. The vents to the shed can always be open.