Opinions needed on ventilation

[Caddy-Corner-Chick]

I am considering cutting long ways under the over hang on the front but will still need to figure out the back side... I may even cut a window in the door and make it where I can slide the cut out in like a pop door during the winter to conceal the draft...

so which tool would be the easiest to use... the reciprocal saw ?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd use the reciprocating. Maybe drill a starter hole to get the blade in.

 

[patandchickens]

Do NOT use a holesaw, leetle 3-4" holes may be fine for attic soffits but they are WOEFULLY INADEQUATE for chicken coops (which have higher ventilation requirements than a house, btw).

What tool to use to cut large vents depends on what exactly you're doing. If you will only be cutting between studs, drill big holes at each corner of the prospective rectangle and then use a power jigsaw, reciprocating saw, or keyhole saw (as per personal taste) to 'connect the dots' to cut out the rectangle. I recommend cutting the holes from INSIDE the coop, that way you KNOW you are not going to run into studs! You will have to sand the snaggly bits off the opening no matter which direction you drill, and can do the *saw* cuts from outside if you want.

If you want your vents to cross studs (without severing them obviously

, just having the studs exposed in the vent) then either remove the siding, cut it to size and replace it, or if it is wood siding (sorry, your links were not behaving well for me on slow dialup so I have not viewed the actual shed in question) you can set your circular saw blade VERY VERY ACCURATELY to the depth of the siding and cut across, then use hadn tools and some swear words to finish breaking the panel of siding free.

Honestly, if you live in Florida, you probably want most of at least one wall to be all-mesh, so just removing large expanses of siding altogether would be by far the easiest way to do it! (Replace with securely affixed hardwarecloth)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[oldchickenlady]

I would put vents high up by the roof with hard ware cloth over them and add at least a couple of windows. You can find cheap vinyl type windows at salvage places, Habitat for Humanity Rehome stores, etc. I bought 2 trailer type windows for $10 each and put them on opposite walls for cross ventilation. Then in winter, close the windows so you have no drafts blowing directly on your birds, but leave your top vents open. The heat and moisture from your birds will rise and go out the top vents. In summer the open windows will help with the heat build up inside. Here is a pic of my coop before I added the run:

I covered it with hardware cloth and also the 4" gap at the back wall of the coop where the rafters are. Since I have trees so close I didn't want anything getting in through that little gap either. My front vent is 1 foot by 8 feet, plus the 4 inch space all around the other 3 walls that the roof rafters created.

 

[Caddy-Corner-Chick]

Does rain and moisture come in through that opening?

 

[patandchickens]

You will need LOTS of open area in Florida, and yes some rain will get in, but it does not matter because the wet areas will dry out again due to the large amount of free air movement you are providing

Chickens REALLY do not deal well with heat, 90 F stresses them and 100 F is often fatal especially in humid areas. Shade and free airflow.

Pat

 

[Caddy-Corner-Chick]

thanks everyone, I will post up pictures as I finish the project.

I already painted it... just need to rip some holes in it now..lol