Too Drafty?

[Dschwartz]

I live in Eastern NM and built my coop with old pickets pushed flush together. There are some gaps here and there, but I had read that there should be ventilation. I concluded this will suffice. In the winter it can get really cold for 3-4 days, but can then warm back up to 50's-60's during the day. If you are in the area or something similar, do you think the pickets will be too drafty, or fine? If too drafty, do you have suggestions?

 

[iwiw60]

I live in Eastern NM and built my coop with old pickets pushed flush together. There are some gaps here and there, but I had read that there should be ventilation. I concluded this will suffice. In the winter it can get really cold for 3-4 days, but can then warm back up to 50's-60's during the day. If you are in the area or something similar, do you think the pickets will be too drafty, or fine? If too drafty, do you have suggestions?

Please send us some photos...we can't advise otherwise...

 

[Trefoil]

What is your idea of really cold? Generally its best to put their roosts where there is no draft. If it becomes a problem, the easy solution would be to attain 2-3" boards and nail them vertically where your original boards gap (assuming you placed the original boards vertically.) there's a name for this but it escapes me right now.

 

[Dschwartz]

The pickets are butted right next to each other. If anything it is maybe a 1/16-1/18 inch gap with they may have been slightly warped. By really cold, there are times we get to 10-20 degrees, but only for generally a few days at a time. The coop itself is 8x8 square with the nest boxes not counting. Height of about 5 feet.

 

[iwiw60]

Quote: Battens....aka board 'n batten

 

[donrae]

I can't get the pic to enlarge

but I think you're okay. It's in a sheltered area, looks like you've got some good wind breaks there. If it were out in the middle of an open area it might be different, but up against that fence you should be good to go.

I'd actually be more concerned it's too tight, with as hot as you're likely to get.

 

[Dschwartz]

I worried about that too. I have a thermometer that monitors the temp inside and outside of the coop. The tree really helps, and I have a mister in the area that cools it down, but does not make the ground wet.