Roof Ventilation Concerns

[JoleneNoel]

Hi everyone,

We live in upstate NY and get some cold winters and hot days in the summer. We’ve been building the coop as part of a homeschooling project and insulation/ventilation has been a huge concern of mine but the quarantined contractor who builds houses for people and not for chickens insists we don’t really need much. I disagree and need some help from the experts.

The coop is L 7’ x W 8’ and is about 6.5’ H with exterior nesting boxes and an 8x10 fenced in run. The roof (not walls) is insulated with foam board insulation and we used corrugated pvc roofing material right over the rafters for a ceiling. The roof itself is covered in “ice and water” with shingles so far with the plan for a standard ridge vent. The only other ventilation would be from the soffit. I’m not sure if this is going to be enough. I’m open to any suggestions at this point! Thanks,

 

[DobieLover]

Hi everyone,

We live in upstate NY and get some cold winters and hot days in the summer. We’ve been building the coop as part of a homeschooling project and insulation/ventilation has been a huge concern of mine but the quarantined contractor who builds houses for people and not for chickens insists we don’t really need much. I disagree and need some help from the experts.

The coop is L 7’ x W 8’ and is about 6.5’ H with exterior nesting boxes and an 8x10 fenced in run. The roof (not walls) is insulated with foam board insulation and we used corrugated pvc roofing material right over the rafters for a ceiling. The roof itself is covered in “ice and water” with shingles so far with the plan for a standard ridge vent. The only other ventilation would be from the soffit. I’m not sure if this is going to be enough. I’m open to any suggestions at this point! Thanks,

I'm also in Upstate NY. You most definitely DO NOT need insulation. You do need more ventilation. You need to think dry, not warm when it comes to chickens. You need to have damp stale air moving out of the coop and fresh air moving in.
The ice and water barrier wasn't needed either. That's not necessary when roofing an unheated structure.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ridge vents get blocked up by snow, so don't count on that for winter.

Do those windows open? They look like they're awning style, so those should be covered with wire mesh for safety and otherwise propped open.

 

[JoleneNoel]

I'm also in Upstate NY. You most definitely DO NOT need insulation. You do need more ventilation. You need to think dry, not warm when it comes to chickens. You need to have damp stale air moving out of the coop and fresh air moving in.
The ice and water barrier wasn't needed either. That's not necessary when roofing an unheated structure.

Thank you! That makes so much sense. So should I add vents at the top on each end?

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you! That makes so much sense. So should I add vents at the top on each end?

Yes

 

[mowin]

If you can open up the soffits on both sides, that would help alot. Cover with HC to make it predator proof.