The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[sunflower4you]

Sadly, I don't think my coop would lend itself to an open-side design. Mine is more of a wind-tunnel style. There's a big window on the opposite wall from the pop door. I've been thinking the window should probably stay closed for winter, but if I do that, I'll def. need more vents up in the attic.

The coop has an "attic" space that's divided from the main space, like a ceiling. There's a ladder hole to get up into it. All of my vents are in the attic, on opposite sides of the coop from each other, so the wind can blow through. I could cut a lot more vents, and the draft would stay over everyone's head, in the separated space. Does that make any sense? I feel like I need to draw a picture.

If it were me, and I had the option, I'd still try to put the vent openings on one side of the coop...the side that has their door.

You could always have more for the summer and devise a way to block them off for winter so there isn't the "wind blowing through" thing going on. In the summer that breeze is very much appreciated! In the winter, being sure there is enough to keep humidity from building up is the big thing. If you did that, you could experiment for winter by just leaving one side open and seeing if it does the job. If not, you could open up more of them and nothing is lost!

Cheetah - that sounds exactly like my set-up and I thought the venting in the attic is a good thing since it would seem any drafts would stay up there.

Leahs Mom - you make a good suggestion to try blocking a couple of the vents. My husband was thinking we should block some for winter. Now I have to devise a temporary vent blocker (would rather not nail a board and have to rip out nails to take it off again).

 

[hoosiercheetah]

the ceiling is solid, except a 2x2 hole to climb up through.

the floor area is 12' by 12'

So, obviously the drawing isn't to scale. But you get the idea.

 

[hennible]

Cheetah - that sounds exactly like my set-up and I thought the venting in the attic is a good thing since it would seem any drafts would stay up there.

Leahs Mom - you make a good suggestion to try blocking a couple of the vents.  My husband was thinking we should block some for winter.  Now I have to devise a temporary vent blocker (would rather not nail a board and have to rip out nails to take it off again).

Have you ever seen these?

So no idea what they are called but they are metal, the bow tie part spins on the stew and they work great for holding access panels in place...
Please excuse the silly drawing

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Have you ever seen these?

So no idea what they are called but they are metal, the bow tie part spins on the stew and they work great for holding access panels in place...
Please excuse the silly drawing

I know exactly what you mean but I can't find them anywhere. Yet.


eta I can't find a name for them, but I bet if you walk into ace hardware they have them in three sizes.

 

[hennible]

Might help if I could find the name...

 

[sunflower4you]

Have you ever seen these?

So no idea what they are called but they are metal, the bow tie part spins on the stew and they work great for holding access panels in place...
Please excuse the silly drawing

Not a silly drawing - I found it!

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Hardw...F8&qid=1415130622&sr=8-9&keywords=turn+button

 

[hennible]

Yippee! That's great!

 

[hoosiercheetah]

I looked for everything but "button". ;-)

 

[ronott1]

I looked for everything but "button". ;-)

wing nut

 

[sunflower4you]

wing nut

I tried wing nut but it's not exactly the same.

The correct term (apparently) is "turn button". We all learned something new today!