Opened air coops? Care to share pics and experience?

[Kjordanov]

IMHO most breeds would do better in what you are planning. I think you can never have too much ventilation.
Lots of people talk about concern with drafts. I really don't worry about drafts if the birds aren't wet. The last 2 coops I built have 1/3 of both the east AND west wall open. I will shutter one opening on the windward side when a big storm is moving in but most of the year the openings are bringing a nice breeze in and I have no health problems.

I always say chickens die from bad air but not cold.

Lol my chickens will die from the cold here in northern Canada! Lol so that last thing is not true for me, sadly!

 

[Chickensandbirds]

Your plan looks great! We have open air coops. Two sides are open (hardware cloth) and two sides are wooden. Our climate is mild in the winter and very hot in the summer. -have to make certain that the birds have plenty of circulating air during the summer. (We temporarily placed partial tarps on the open sides during two days of wind and snow. -worked well.) We're far more concerned about the heat and air quality than the cold.....but again, that's for a warm climate. If your birds will be sheltered from cold blowing wind and rain/snow, they should do well in the open coop.

 

[Cknldy]

Since your plan looks to be adding a covered run section plus an additional uncovered run section I wouldn't bother cutting the inside shed part in half. Great idea about the 'lip' to keep bedding in- a 2×6thought works great. Just in case for the wind that doesn't want to blow the way it is supposed to I'd suggest having a tarp on hand to cover half of the open east side if needed during a really bad snowstorm. Or make a sill to slide a piece of plywood/ plexiglass in. (That sounded good in my head and I can envision it, maybe not doing so good on explaining it!lol) The other half of the open front with the door would still be open. I had to do something like this for my bg girls this week due to the wind. It even kept the water from freezing!

 

[redneck farmer]

i have 2 questions. do the chickens need ventilation 24-7? (cuase was thinking about just having the ventilation open in the day an close during the night only in the winter)
my 2nd one is that is there a chicken-to-ventilation sq ratio?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

1 sq. ft. per bird is recommended. That probably equates to an opensided coop.
Yes it is 24/7. It's at night when they're on the roost that it's most important.
Opening the door during the day isn't sufficient.
Small respiratory systems are susceptible to all sorts of problems.

 

[redneck farmer]

Ok thank u

 

[Homestead girl]

Our coop open on all four sides. on one side it is covered half way up with tin just to cut down on drafts and cut down on blowing rain.
The chickens love it cause they are really outside all day but covered and out of the hot sun and the hawks can't get to them.

 

[aaltamare]

First timers curious in PA

Wondering if I can get some thoughts on my coop for the winter months. I have a picture attached. The coop is about 6'x8'x5'. I have three windows and our door is open from early morning till dark. There is a door that runs from roof to ground level between the two front windows. We have three girls who live there. Their outside area is a decent size. The coop was built using panels of pallets (prebuilt). So there are small gaps between each board. This was my husbands first attempt at building anything so there are places it may not be completely square. This also give an inch gap here or there.There is also a little ventilation under the roof panel. I thought it would be a good idea to raise it a couple inches.Thier roosting posts run from front to back of the coop along the long window on the side of the building.

 

[MelissaTXRn]

 

[MelissaTXRn]