Trying to cool off my coop

[Swbertrand1]

Is there a way to put in an exhaust fan with something that is already built?

Yes, it can be done. My boyfriend built our coop and added the exhaust about a year later.

I asked him to give me a quick primer on how he did it: He had to open up our "ceiling" in the coop, add an exhaust vent in the ceiling, and add the ducting, the fan, and an exterior register with flaps so birds and such wouldn't get in when the fan isn't running. He said ours is a high-volume hydroponic fan (for exhausting grow rooms or something like that). The ducting is flexible running from the ceiling exhaust register 90 degrees to the fan intake, then out the fan to the exterior register. He said he could have just mounted a fan in the ceiling and exhausted the heat straight into the "attic" but that he didn't want to force that much hot air (800cfm) into that small space since the soffit and roof vents weren't designed to transfer that much air volume.

He pulled power from an existing switch or outlet in the coop, ran the wire through a thermostat placed at the height of the birds, then pulled the wire to the fan and connected it. The fan has power all the time, but only comes on if the thermostat is adjusted to meet the current or higher temperature in the coop. To turn it "off", we turn it down to below the current temperature. We also use two oscillating fans on timers that run from about an hour before the birds go up until midnight to cool the coop as much as possible until the outside temperature does that naturally.

It's worth noting that we don't have open rafters or trusses in the ceiling if that helps to visualize it; the ceiling is covered in 1/4" plywood, and there is a 14" x 14" return air fixture (like you'd use in a home) close to the center of the ceiling between two of the ceiling joists.

 

[StepfordCuckoos]

Yes, it can be done. My boyfriend built our coop and added the exhaust about a year later.

I asked him to give me a quick primer on how he did it: He had to open up our "ceiling" in the coop, add an exhaust vent in the ceiling, and add the ducting, the fan, and an exterior register with flaps so birds and such wouldn't get in when the fan isn't running. He said ours is a high-volume hydroponic fan (for exhausting grow rooms or something like that). The ducting is flexible running from the ceiling exhaust register 90 degrees to the fan intake, then out the fan to the exterior register. He said he could have just mounted a fan in the ceiling and exhausted the heat straight into the "attic" but that he didn't want to force that much hot air (800cfm) into that small space since the soffit and roof vents weren't designed to transfer that much air volume.

He pulled power from an existing switch or outlet in the coop, ran the wire through a thermostat placed at the height of the birds, then pulled the wire to the fan and connected it. The fan has power all the time, but only comes on if the thermostat is adjusted to meet the current or higher temperature in the coop. To turn it "off", we turn it down to below the current temperature. We also use two oscillating fans on timers that run from about an hour before the birds go up until midnight to cool the coop as much as possible until the outside temperature does that naturally.

It's worth noting that we don't have open rafters or trusses in the ceiling if that helps to visualize it; the ceiling is covered in 1/4" plywood, and there is a 14" x 14" return air fixture (like you'd use in a home) close to the center of the ceiling between two of the ceiling joists.

Thank you! That's very helpful!!

 

[aart]

Unless it is significantly cooler outside the coop,
nothing but AC will cool the coop down.

I have a fan blowing in cooler air in from outside east side(shady most the day) of coop late in the day.
It helps some, especially if temps drop outside.

 

[Katanahamon]

Hi! I'm trying to cool off my coop. I live on the East Coast of the US and it's very hot where I am. Not like scalding out, but it's not comfortable to be outside for an extended period of time. I have two silkies that are broody and in the process (very close) to hatching eggs. Their brooder is inside the coop and it gets quite hot in there. Is there any way to cool down the coop? I have tarps. For reference their coop looks quite close to: this. If I put a tarp over their run will the shade help cool off the coop? Will putting a tarp over the roof of the coop itself help cool it off?

What’s your humidity? I live in near single digit humidity, a portable swamp cooler works great for my coop..

 

[StepfordCuckoos]

What’s your humidity? I live in near single digit humidity, a portable swamp cooler works great for my coop..

I live in an area with high humidity. I googled it and it said 70% for today.

 

[Ironclay]

Unless it is significantly cooler outside the coop,
nothing but AC will cool the coop down.

I have a fan blowing in cooler air in from outside east side(shady most the day) of coop late in the day.
It helps some, especially if temps drop outside.

This is what I ended up doing. I have a small little shed-type coop, too -- but I have ZERO shade where it is set up. I had an extra free-standing AC, so I installed it in a corner and drilled a hole in the side wall for exhaust, and ran a heavy-duty extension cable from my shop to the coop. (Plus that let me rig up indoor lighting for night-time work.)

It's hitting 110+ with 100% humidity where I am, and I've got Ameraucanas, polish, and marans. Most people around me are losing animals, and I'm thankful that I am not. The AC doesn't work GREAT, but it's the difference between 90 degrees in the coop and 118 degrees in the coop.

 

[3KillerBs]

This is what I ended up doing. I have a small little shed-type coop, too -- but I have ZERO shade where it is set up. I had an extra free-standing AC, so I installed it in a corner and drilled a hole in the side wall for exhaust, and ran a heavy-duty extension cable from my shop to the coop. (Plus that let me rig up indoor lighting for night-time work.)

It's hitting 110+ with 100% humidity where I am, and I've got Ameraucanas, polish, and marans. Most people around me are losing animals, and I'm thankful that I am not. The AC doesn't work GREAT, but it's the difference between 90 degrees in the coop and 118 degrees in the coop.

Better clean the AC's filters daily. They're not made to handle that much dust and feather dander so it could be a fire risk.

 

[Katanahamon]

This is what I ended up doing. I have a small little shed-type coop, too -- but I have ZERO shade where it is set up. I had an extra free-standing AC, so I installed it in a corner and drilled a hole in the side wall for exhaust, and ran a heavy-duty extension cable from my shop to the coop. (Plus that let me rig up indoor lighting for night-time work.)

It's hitting 110+ with 100% humidity where I am, and I've got Ameraucanas, polish, and marans. Most people around me are losing animals, and I'm thankful that I am not. The AC doesn't work GREAT, but it's the difference between 90 degrees in the coop and 118 degrees in the coop.

Glad you’re being kind to your animals..not all are so fortunate..!

 

[StepfordCuckoos]

This Friday my dad and I are going to go to Home Depot or Lowes and get stuff to make a screen door for my coop. He's really hand so the door will definitely do the job it is meant to while also keeping my birds safe.

 

[Katanahamon]

This Friday my dad and I are going to go to Home Depot or Lowes and get stuff to make a screen door for my coop. He's really hand so the door will definitely do the job it is meant to while also keeping my birds safe.

I had to do similar..I cut the top inside panel of the ppl door to make a Dutch style door, installed hardware cloth with screws and washers, that, three windows, two eave vents, pop door, and a Honeywell swamp cooler…