Too much ventilation/draft?

[Blessedmamaof3]

I am wondering if there is such a thing as too much ventilation in a coop? We are building a freestanding coop under an existing 3 sided pole barn. Currently the coop part has a floor and 3 (7' tall) walls but no roof. The pole barn as you can see in the photos will take care of any rain/snow issues. I plan to put hardware cloth all the way from the ground up to the rafters around the coop to create a predator proof run. Will not having a roof on the coop be a problem? I live in Eastern KS and we get really hot/humid summers and below freezing in winter. I used tounge and groove, metal garage door panels for the floor and walls. The panels are made with 2 inches of insulation inside them, though I have no idea if it will help any if it doesn't have a top. I got them cheap from my dad's work and thought they would be easy to put together and clean and lumber is so expensive right now. There will also be windows added to the east and west side. The pole barn is open to the south. The top of the panel walls are between 10 and 18 inches from the pole barn roof (roof slopes down toward the back of the coop). Will the coop be too drafty in the winter or is it ok since it will be well above roosting bars? Any other advice is always welcome.

 

[gtaus]

I am wondering if there is such a thing as too much ventilation in a coop? ... Will the coop be too drafty in the winter or is it ok since it will be well above roosting bars? Any other advice is always welcome.

I have never heard of too much ventilation in a coop. If drafty underneath roosting chickens, then that might be a problem. Sounds like your ventilation will be above their roosts, so I would think you are OK. If you find it is drafty in the winter, you could cover part of your wire roof with some heavy plastic.

I don't think insulated walls really matter in a chicken coop because we all try to have as much good ventilation as possible, which means your inside coop temp is going to be the same as outside the coop. It's not like building a house where you want to keep the cold out and the warm heat in. But I like how you are using materials that you have available given the extremely high cost of lumber these days. So good for you.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC. The pole barn roof will provide all the roof protection needed.

As long as you don't have wind blowing directly on the chickens to ruffle their feathers you can't have too much ventilation. Plenty of fresh air is one of the main keys to good health.

Ventilation removes ammonia and moisture, the latter of which is even more important in the winter. Chickens' built-in down parkas will keep them warm as long as we make it possible for them to stay dry. Summer heat is more dangerous to them than cold is.

 

[saysfaa]

Definitely doesn't need the roof. I would leave at least the back wall off too, and probably the sides, and maybe the front. You won't get drafts with the three solid sides and roof of the pole building.

I lived in eastern Kansas for a decade or so, I would be far more concerned about summer heat than winter cold.

 

[aart]

I plan to put hardware cloth all the way from the ground up to the rafters around the coop to create a predator proof run. Will not having a roof on the coop be a problem?

If the first is secure no need to roof or ceiling the coop.

Only way to know if it's going to be too drafty is to stand in finished coop on a really windy day and see/feel.

 

[NatJ]

We are building a freestanding coop under an existing 3 sided pole barn. Currently the coop part has a floor and 3 (7' tall) walls but no roof. The pole barn as you can see in the photos will take care of any rain/snow issues. I plan to put hardware cloth all the way from the ground up to the rafters around the coop to create a predator proof run.

I am not sure you need a "coop" at all!

If you make a predator proof enclosure with hardware cloth, inside the pole barn, you could probably just put a roost for sleeping, and a bit of windbreak so the roost is a little more sheltered from wind that comes in the front of the pole barn.

Too much wind can be a problem, but too much ventilation is NOT a problem.

If the first is secure no need to roof or ceiling the coop.

Only way to know if it's going to be too drafty is to stand in finished coop on a really windy day and see/feel.

I see we were thinking the same thing at the same time

 

[Ridgerunner]

We are building a freestanding coop under an existing 3 sided pole barn.

I'd consider that a shed more than what I normally envision as a pole barn. With one side totally open to your eastern Kansas winter winds I think having all sides enclosed where the chickens will sleep to be a good idea.

I plan to put hardware cloth all the way from the ground up to the rafters around the coop to create a predator proof run.

Not totally sure what this will look like but if it is predator proof it doesn't matter.

Will not having a roof on the coop be a problem?

No, not if it is protected from wind where the chickens sleep. During the day they can move around to get out of a wind. Your job is not to keep the chickens warm, your job is to allow them to keep themselves warm with their down coats by staying dry and out of a breeze. My grow-out coop is somewhat similar in that half the top is just hardware cloth but with a raised portion over that to keep out rain but the lower part gives great wind protection.

I got them cheap from my dad's work and thought they would be easy to put together and clean and lumber is so expensive right now.

Excellent. I support recycling and keeping your costs down. An open top will let in a lot of light, not sure how much you will need those windows but they won't hurt. Having the coop in the shade in summer will help a lot with the heat. I like it.