Hey Folks,
Been slowly working away at building our new coop. We made family project of it and designed it ourselves.. Being new to Backyard chickens (growing up we had free range meat birds but they just roamed our barn with the other animals) I am looking for some input in the quantity, size and placement of our windows and vents. We live in Canada East of Toronto. Our average winter overnight temp is about -10c (15F) with dips to around -20c (0F). Summer we average daytime 25c (75F) with peaks of 35C (95F). There are some days colder/hotter but pretty rare.
I have attached some photos for reference. The coop house itself is about 4'x4' and the pen area underneath is 4'x6'. I will be building a larger run off the side of this. This will be positioned on the south side of our shed and house. This will provide shade from the hot summer sun while giving it winter sun and hopefully block it from the cold winds from the north.
Looking at the photos I have marked the placement of the windows and doors. The large open side will be our clean out doors. The windows I am using Plexiglass that will slide to open. Each window is around 12"x12". I have lots of plexi so I can go larger. This will give me opening windows on all sides but the north.
The doors will be one for the hens to reach the coop playpen and the other is access to reach the egg boxes. Then the entire north side opens for clean out only.
Is this enough light and ventilation? Should I cut larger permanent vents up near the peaks or add more opening windows on the north side?
This is just our starting point and I will have a thermometer in the coop. Knowing me it will be wireless ;-) So I will be monitoring and can always increase/decrease the ventilation.
Much appreciate you input!
Been slowly working away at building our new coop. We made family project of it and designed it ourselves.. Being new to Backyard chickens (growing up we had free range meat birds but they just roamed our barn with the other animals) I am looking for some input in the quantity, size and placement of our windows and vents. We live in Canada East of Toronto. Our average winter overnight temp is about -10c (15F) with dips to around -20c (0F). Summer we average daytime 25c (75F) with peaks of 35C (95F). There are some days colder/hotter but pretty rare.
I have attached some photos for reference. The coop house itself is about 4'x4' and the pen area underneath is 4'x6'. I will be building a larger run off the side of this. This will be positioned on the south side of our shed and house. This will provide shade from the hot summer sun while giving it winter sun and hopefully block it from the cold winds from the north.
Looking at the photos I have marked the placement of the windows and doors. The large open side will be our clean out doors. The windows I am using Plexiglass that will slide to open. Each window is around 12"x12". I have lots of plexi so I can go larger. This will give me opening windows on all sides but the north.
The doors will be one for the hens to reach the coop playpen and the other is access to reach the egg boxes. Then the entire north side opens for clean out only.
Is this enough light and ventilation? Should I cut larger permanent vents up near the peaks or add more opening windows on the north side?
This is just our starting point and I will have a thermometer in the coop. Knowing me it will be wireless ;-) So I will be monitoring and can always increase/decrease the ventilation.
Much appreciate you input!