Roosting, and sleeping

[Dazz172]

The hardware cloth is placed over the vents to keep predators out. But having more ventilation allows moisture not to build up inside your coop. If there is not enough ventilation moisture can build up inside the coop which is not good for the chickens. I’m not sure if it was designed for three chickens. What are the dimensions of the coop?

Hey Rachel, is it possible to have too many vents? cuz I can put vents in quite Few diff places, the dimensions of inside coop with out nest box is roughly 2ft x 2ft

 

[Birdsong 82]

you Definitely could use more room. You could convert or add on to the current one.

 

[Birdsong 82]

It’s tough with such small space. It’s hard to have too many vents I make a covering for some of my vents So on those beyond cold nights I can cover some of the vents and open them again during the day

 

[aart]

I believe what aart meant was that you want the vent guards placed where the weather would be an issue (if you're concerned with rain shooting into an opening).

Yes, the louvered vent covers that you (@Dazz172 ) posted should go where the rain might hit them, they'll keep water out but let air in and out.

The other vent opening I suggested would be under cover of the run roof,
so can just be an open hole...but covered with HC for safety.

Too much ventilation, never..... too strong of drafts blowing on roosts in winter, yes.
Here's a pretty good discussion of such:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048597/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts

BUT that coop is so small that it's tough make it anywhere near perfect.
I looked up your annual temps and they seem pretty mild on average.

Oh, had another thought, raising the roosts a few inches and reducing the amount of bedding in nests might help.....or you might just have to block nests every evening as @rosemarythyme suggested.

 

[Dazz172]

Yes, the louvered vent covers that you (@Dazz172 ) posted should go where the rain might hit them, they'll keep water out but let air in and out.

The other vent opening I suggested would be under cover of the run roof,
so can just be an open hole...but covered with HC for safety.

Too much ventilation, never..... too strong of drafts blowing on roosts in winter, yes.
Here's a pretty good discussion of such:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048597/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts

BUT that coop is so small that it's tough make it anywhere near perfect.
I looked up your annual temps and they seem pretty mild on average.

Oh, had another thought, raising the roosts a few inches and reducing the amount of bedding in nests might help.....or you might just have to block nests every evening as @rosemarythyme suggested.

Thanks aart, great advice, I got a pretty good idea of what I'll do now, I will get stuck into that today

 

[Dazz172]

Ok so I have added a few more vents got rid of those useless holes and replace with 2 large vents 2 smaller around the corner and cut a bit hole out as aart suggested under the roof in the pen, I've also raised the roost bars as far as I think I can as any higher will start to cramp there head room, they sit a good 5 inches of the floor now, it's not ideal but the best it can b I think, main thing is that there should b plenty more ventilation now

 

[rosemarythyme]

Good job on getting all those vents installed. Only addition I'd make is the hole that you cut out, the one that's inside under the roof, I'd screw down some hardware cloth or welded wire for a little extra security. No need for a vent cover though as there shouldn't be an issue with rain blowing in through there since it's well covered by a roof.

 

[perchie.girl]

One thing to remember people on other continents may have different predators than we do... Awesome redo... @Dazz172

You are heading into summer now right...? does it get hot where you are?

deb

 

[Dazz172]

Good job on getting all those vents installed. Only addition I'd make is the hole that you cut out, the one that's inside under the roof, I'd screw down some hardware cloth or welded wire for a little extra security. No need for a vent cover though as there shouldn't be an issue with rain blowing in through there since it's well covered by a roof.

Thanks , yeh I will definitely do that

 

[Dazz172]

One thing to remember people on other continents may have different predators than we do... Awesome redo... @Dazz172

You are heading into summer now right...? does it get hot where you are?

deb

Hi deb, yeh where I live there isn't a real threat of predators as such but better safe than sorry I Spose , I have houses all around me also , so if there did happen to be a predator it has fair bit to get thro to get to the girls, then also there is quite fine wire all the way round there pen so they pretty wel protected . Yes that's right summer is just starting and does get extremely hot here although it's been quite comfortable lately , but also another reason I wanted to get in and get all these vents done so there was plenty ventilation