Question about ventilation

[Crystal Chicken]

I built this myself so I am sure it's. It perfect but I'm working on it being the best it can be. The whole top is open, between the roof and the walls with hardware cloth. It seems to cool down fine at night (it was 71 in there) but the chickens still seem to pant like they are hot. They aren't panting during the day when they are outside so it has to be something with the coop. Should I add a couple of windows? Is this ventilation enough?

 

[Captain13]

Just in case the wind gets really bad here during cold weather, I made canvas covers for the sides. That’s the green things just under the roof. Otherwise, I keep them rolled up like in the picture.

Regarding the cold, it’s typical Georgia winters with nights getting into the teens sometimes. Wind…yesterday we had a storm come through with winds gusting to 70 mph. When hurricanes come up out of the Gulf of Mexico, we will have sustained winds of 60 mph. The girls can go on the roosting bars and that gets them out of the wind.

 

[Folly's place]

Shutters hinged at the top of the windows, so they act like an awning, work most of the year, and can be partially closed in really bad weather. And lots of ventilation on the leeward side of the coop can be left open during most weather. Closing too many vents will be a bad thing, regardless of ambient temps.
Mary

 

[rosemarythyme]

What are the measurements of all the vents?

When it was 71F inside, what was the temperature outside, did you take a reading there?

 

[Captain13]

I would suggest some openings lower in the coop so that the opening between the roof and walls can draft and pull hot air up and out of the coop. With just the roof/wall opening, the air in the coop will be stagnant.

 

[mossyoakpro]

I would suggest some openings lower in the coop so that the opening between the roof and walls can draft and pull hot air up and out of the coop. With just the roof/wall opening, the air in the coop will be stagnant.

This works like a charm! I cut another window into my coop at eye level for the birds and now you can feel the breeze lofting through it even in the hot days. Now they all try to crowd in by the new window every night....crazy birds

 

[Folly's place]

There will not be enough ventilation in any season if that window is closed. And south Georgia hardly has winters...
Mary

 

[Crystal Chicken]

What are the measurements of all the vents?

When it was 71F inside, what was the temperature outside, did you take a reading there?

Two sides are about 4"x6ft, and two are 4" x 3ft.
It was a similar temp outside as inside the coop.

 

[Crystal Chicken]

So that's about 8 sq ft, just a tad under - enough for a flock of 8 in moderate or cooler temperatures. How many birds do you have total?

Good sign that the temperatures are about the same.

I have 8 birds

 

[Captain13]

My coop is completely open at the bottom. The roof is open at the eaves. The tin overlap is open and the ridge cover is open as well. If there is no breeze/wind, the draft is from the bottom up. If there is wind mi event, it blows right through the coop. Ventilation is absolutely necessary here in central Georgia. I have two fans inside the coop that I turn on in the morning and off at dark. The heat index here has been over 105 for the last three weeks so I give the girls all the fresh air and breeze I can. Plus, as you can see, the coop is in the shade, only getting morning sun.