post your chicken coop pictures here!

[junebuggena]

@junebuggena @gotro17 Yes, there is that window in the door(faces West) it's open & has HW cloth over the opening & then windows we cut with HW cloth over on the North & South walls & right now there are just little vents in East wall that was already in there.

Not enough. Windows are not an efficient means of ventilation, since they must be closed during stormy weather. Ventilation needs to be a constant. You need lots of ventilation in all weathers, day and night, all year long. A window here and a window there, does not provide adequate ventilation above roosting level, where it's needed most.

 

[Kcarp03]

@junebuggena what other type of ventilation would do we need to incorporate. We're planning on the North & South windows staying open, we're going to have some sort of cover over them(think small awning type) so if it is just raining, it won't drip in. South end has trees & will help keep rain from blowing in. but we'll definitely add wherever need! Thank you, I appreciate any & all input bc we are total newbies at this & I want them to be happy & healthy!

 

[junebuggena]

@junebuggena what other type of ventilation would do we need to incorporate. We're planning on the North & South windows staying open, we're going to have some sort of cover over them(think small awning type) so if it is just raining, it won't drip in. South end has trees & will help keep rain from blowing in. but we'll definitely add wherever need! Thank you, I appreciate any & all input bc we are total newbies at this & I want them to be happy & healthy!

Since both ammonia and moisture rise, venting needs to be as high as possible to be effective. Soffit and gable vents work best to draw fresh air in and expel the bad air.

 

[rudekoolaid]

Finished for now. Until they are big enough to free ranch and we will open the ramp up. I do let them roam when I am home just not insupervised yet. Whole side comes off for cleanings.

 

[Latestarter]

@junebuggena @gotro17 Yes, there is that window in the door(faces West) it's open & has HW cloth over the opening & then windows we cut with HW cloth over on the North & South walls & right now there are just little vents in East wall that was already in there.

Greetings and welcome to BYC! Very nice home for your chickens. As has already been mentioned, the ventilation is not adequate... What I did was place gable vents on both peak ends:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_39913-52595-GLPG1824G_1z0uax0__?productId=3284216&pl=1

I also left the rafters open under the roof and covered those openings with hardware cloth and window screening (to help keep mosquitoes down). I then created horizontal vents near floor level and covered them with hardware cloth. You want fresh air to enter low and pull the heated, moist, fouled air, up and out at the top. You don't want that air flow to hit the birds where they roost, so place the openings appropriately. There's no such thing as "too much" ventilation... only too little. It doesn't look like you have rafters that you could open/vent through. Another option would be to put a wind activated vent on the roof.

https://www.zoro.com/empire-ventila...gclid=CLOQ-9_0k80CFQ2QaQodqDYObA&gclsrc=aw.ds

You can see what I'm talking about regarding ventilation on my coop if you click on my coop link in my signature.

As for the roost, it's a little high for them to get to right now, but when full grown, they should be able to get up there with a leap and a flap. So for now, if you made some graduated step platforms for them or a ramp, but they can most likely be removed when the birds are full grown. The bigger problem is coming down off the roost... They fly down at a 45 degree glide slope so they need an adequate distance to not hit the opposite wall. As for the nest boxes, you won't need them for several months more so I wouldn't put them in there right now. The birds will learn to use them as resting places rather than their intended purpose. Most LF (large fowl) pullets (females less than a year old) reach POL (point of lay) between 22-26 weeks. Of course some start earlier and some start later.

I noticed that you covered the entrance to the underside of the coop with hardware cloth also. BRILLIANT!

Not only will it keep your birds from going under there to dust bathe/hide/lay eggs/go broody/etc. but will also help keep mice and other unwanted pests from going under there and causing problems/issues. Just keep in mind, it needs to extend at least 12" down into the dirt to keep diggers from going right under it. Also, the birds will scratch dust bathing holes right next to it, so if not buried down some, it will open access for them to get under and odds are, they will not be able to find where they entered to get back out.

Good luck with your chickeneering!

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...ilator+turbine&sprefix=Ventilator+tur,aps,187

There's some on Amazon a lot cheaper but still look like good quality and isn't just going to fall apart in the wind there are a few that look flimsy for about 20 dollars I wouldn't buy one of those ones.

 

[mclanea]

If you're looking for active, I've got one of these installed in my backyard office (96 square feet) that does pretty well. It's quiet and solar powered. Been pleased with it so far.
http://www.amazon.com/ECO-WORTHY-So...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

 

[Latestarter]

If you're looking for active, I've got one of these installed in my backyard office (96 square feet) that does pretty well. It's quiet and solar powered. Been pleased with it so far.
http://www.amazon.com/ECO-WORTHY-So...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

Those might be fine for an office, but I gotta tell you, I doubt that would work for venting a chicken coop The biggest reason is dander... chicken dust... It gets into/on everything! It would plug that up within a week. I'd be very concerned about burning out that little DC motor also and don't know but might even prove to be a fire hazard. I have to hose off my gable vents and all other vents 2-3 times a year to clear all the dander/dust out of the screens/hardware cloth.

The links I sent were just for illustrative purposes, not a recommendation at all

 

[mclanea]

Those might be fine for an office, but I gotta tell you, I doubt that would work for venting a chicken coop The biggest reason is dander... chicken dust... It gets into/on everything! It would plug that up within a week. I'd be very concerned about burning out that little DC motor also and don't know but might even prove to be a fire hazard. I have to hose off my gable vents and all other vents 2-3 times a year to clear all the dander/dust out of the screens/hardware cloth.

The links I sent were just for illustrative purposes, not a recommendation at all

I'll be sure to not to post a link again. Thanks.

 

[MeepBeep]

Those might be fine for an office, but I gotta tell you, I doubt that would work for venting a chicken coop The biggest reason is dander... chicken dust... It gets into/on everything! It would plug that up within a week. I'd be very concerned about burning out that little DC motor also and don't know but might even prove to be a fire hazard. I have to hose off my gable vents and all other vents 2-3 times a year to clear all the dander/dust out of the screens/hardware cloth.

The links I sent were just for illustrative purposes, not a recommendation at all

The clogging I agree with, you really need commercial rated fans and motors in a coop, screen filters are just asking for trouble... I have used a few common full sized 'box fans' in my coop just to move air and unless you take them out and hose them off every few days the dander will literally stop them in their tracks... Same thing with fine mesh screen, I left the window screens in my coop for a bit initially trying to keep bugs out, that lasted about a week before they were caked solid with dander...

It's amazing how much dust chickens create...