Thoughts & advice on my coop ventilation?

bumblychicken

Chirping
Apr 23, 2025
38
52
69
First and foremost the coop is still a work in progress, it was actually an old treehouse! The official roosting bars still need to go in plus other things such as the nesting boxes but they aren’t laying yet, plus more but anyways

As we all know it’s summer time and very hot. I am a new chicken mama and doing my very best to try and keep my nine 10 week old chickens as cool as possible. 8 of them are buff orpingtons and 1 is a black sex-link.

The inside of my coop is roughly 7 feet long by 5 feet wide and 6.5 feet tall

A lot of this week, the temperature has been in the 90’s

My thermometer is at the top of the coop so I know it’ll read hotter but for example it’s 8pm and 86 degrees outside, my coop is reading 96 degrees because it held in the heat of the day. At the peak of the day I’ve seen it hit 104 degrees inside of there. By the time they go to bed I’ll be lucky if it’s mid to high 80’s

I put another thermometer lower and it read’s about 5 degrees cooler but it is still hot

At night I’ve been putting two 1 gal frozen water bottles wrapped in kitchen towels for them to lay near and I’ve noticed that has helped but is there anything else I can do? I know they won’t be sleeping on the ground forever so I may need another solution (unless their windows higher up will help in the future)

I have an exhaust fan in there plus another fan I point out the window. I normally have it in the window next to the exhaust fan that is already there but I switched it up. Also that exhaust fan only works when the sun is hitting the solar panel so it shuts off at night

I’m also thinking ahead for the future for if they’re inside laying or broody I worry about the inside temps being too hot when those times come

Some other details: I have those three windows on the side, they can close. There are two rectangle vents pictured that are opposite of each other, and there are drill holes all around the top. The big door stays propped open all day.

I hope I gave all the details I need or more for some advice, feel free to ask questions

Bonus question I’d like advice on: how does it look for winter? I figured I’ll more than likely need to close the back window at least?

Thank you if you took the time to read all of that lol I know I’m all over the place ❤️
 

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First and foremost the coop is still a work in progress, it was actually an old treehouse! The official roosting bars still need to go in plus other things such as the nesting boxes but they aren’t laying yet, plus more but anyways

As we all know it’s summer time and very hot. I am a new chicken mama and doing my very best to try and keep my nine 10 week old chickens as cool as possible. 8 of them are buff orpingtons and 1 is a black sex-link.

The inside of my coop is roughly 7 feet long by 5 feet wide and 6.5 feet tall

A lot of this week, the temperature has been in the 90’s

My thermometer is at the top of the coop so I know it’ll read hotter but for example it’s 8pm and 86 degrees outside, my coop is reading 96 degrees because it held in the heat of the day. At the peak of the day I’ve seen it hit 104 degrees inside of there. By the time they go to bed I’ll be lucky if it’s mid to high 80’s

I put another thermometer lower and it read’s about 5 degrees cooler but it is still hot

At night I’ve been putting two 1 gal frozen water bottles wrapped in kitchen towels for them to lay near and I’ve noticed that has helped but is there anything else I can do? I know they won’t be sleeping on the ground forever so I may need another solution (unless their windows higher up will help in the future)

I have an exhaust fan in there plus another fan I point out the window. I normally have it in the window next to the exhaust fan that is already there but I switched it up. Also that exhaust fan only works when the sun is hitting the solar panel so it shuts off at night

I’m also thinking ahead for the future for if they’re inside laying or broody I worry about the inside temps being too hot when those times come

Some other details: I have those three windows on the side, they can close. There are two rectangle vents pictured that are opposite of each other, and there are drill holes all around the top. The big door stays propped open all day.

I hope I gave all the details I need or more for some advice, feel free to ask questions

Bonus question I’d like advice on: how does it look for winter? I figured I’ll more than likely need to close the back window at least?

Thank you if you took the time to read all of that lol I know I’m all over the place ❤️
You certainly do have enough ventilation. It looks like the run has shade as well. If it's too hot or cold their instincts will naturally take them in and out of the coop so I wouldn't worry much. As for cold weather in the winter months you'll want to close all the windows and the door during the nights. I don't know what area you live so cannot comment much further.
 
Some other details: I have those three windows on the side, they can close. There are two rectangle vents pictured that are opposite of each other, and there are drill holes all around the top. The big door stays propped open all day.
The door being open helps during the day but doesn't count as ventilation at night.

The soffits where you have the holes drilled... hate to say it but those pinholes add almost nothing in terms of air. Open those up completely and that will add a good amount of climate protected ventilation up high. When temperatures are hot it might be hard to ventilate enough, but those will be very good come winter especially if you feel the need to close up the windows.
 

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