Pop door issues.

[tiapet]

So my pop door doesn't actually have a door on it. Is this an issue? I live in Hawaii where the lowest temp is probably in the 40s on the colder winter nights. I don't worry so much about the cold, just the fact that it might tend to get drafty. But it is also the only real ventilation at the moment. Our coop is proving a work in progress and I would live any suggestions anyone has for me. Thank you!!!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Gotta worry about predators- rats, weasels, owls, raccoons, foxes (I don't know what you have over there but everything likes chicken).

I'd put a 1/2 inch hardware cloth door on it with raccoon-proof closures, and that way you don't have to worry about ventilation. If the breeze is blowing right on the chickens though, that isn't good.

If your coop is really small I'd try to make the ventilation up high over their heads and put a door on. But make sure the ventilation is LARGE (not holes, but STRIPS of 1/2 inch hardware cloth - rectangles of ventilation).

 

[Ridgerunner]

In those temperatures it’s not a problem from a draft aspect. That’s really not cold to an adult chicken.

A concern would be predators. If you have confidence your run is truly predator proof, that’s not an issue for you. Are you sure a mongoose can’t get in?

I’d suggest you open up something above where they roost so ammonia and such can get out. Moisture is probably not a huge issue since you never get below freezing.

Something else ventilation up high will get rid of is heat. Heat is probably a risk for you. Hot air rises. Having an opening up high heat can leave from and an opening down low cooler air can come in through will make a huge difference.

 

[4 the Birds]

Hawii has wonderful temperatures! Never hot and never cold (We would love to retire to Maui after visiting a few weeks last year!) I doubt that you even have many predators other than dogs to be concerned with. As mentioned, I would create a few other opening up high for air movement. Hopefully your open pop door is to a secure run. You can build a little hutch for the pop door if you want to leave it open full time. That is what I did and it is great to knock down drafts. Mine is always open so the birds have access to the coop and run.