Oooo, an actual barn fan, what do you know -- you are almost the first person here I've seen actually intend to use one of those
Sure, as long as you can get it to provide and appropriate airflow rate, that'd work.
I have to say that I'd still plan for a sufficient passive-ventilation system though. That way you don't have to rely on electricity. If nothing else, it costs nearly nil and leaves you with more options
I'd make vents 6-12" high, all along the top of the walls. (These are built like pole-barn walls, are they? with no studs, just the horizontal nailers for the siding, and a post every 8-12'? Or if there are studs for some reason, just make the vent openings between studs) Arrange hinged flaps or sliders, with a mechanism to hold them securely in whatever state of part-opened-ness you want on the day. If you make long continuous vents, it may be useful to have the flaps (or whatever) in shorter segments, like 3-4' long, both for stability and for giving you more options for fine-tuning things.
Unless the rest of the pole barn contains something for which small amounts of chicken dust would be an Issue (like machinery, or heavey horses) it would be worth IMO putting vents on the inside walls as well. There may be very cold and/or windy days when you find it valuable to ventilate into the building at large, to get *some* air exchange without freezing the chickens. Useful to have the option anyhow, if it matches ok with your use of the rest of the barn.
Have fun,
Pat
I have to say that I'd still plan for a sufficient passive-ventilation system though. That way you don't have to rely on electricity. If nothing else, it costs nearly nil and leaves you with more options
I'd make vents 6-12" high, all along the top of the walls. (These are built like pole-barn walls, are they? with no studs, just the horizontal nailers for the siding, and a post every 8-12'? Or if there are studs for some reason, just make the vent openings between studs) Arrange hinged flaps or sliders, with a mechanism to hold them securely in whatever state of part-opened-ness you want on the day. If you make long continuous vents, it may be useful to have the flaps (or whatever) in shorter segments, like 3-4' long, both for stability and for giving you more options for fine-tuning things.
Unless the rest of the pole barn contains something for which small amounts of chicken dust would be an Issue (like machinery, or heavey horses) it would be worth IMO putting vents on the inside walls as well. There may be very cold and/or windy days when you find it valuable to ventilate into the building at large, to get *some* air exchange without freezing the chickens. Useful to have the option anyhow, if it matches ok with your use of the rest of the barn.
Have fun,
Pat
