Unusual Coop

[neo71665]

what is permanent ventilation? Is that a vent near the ceiling or an electric fan?

Standard breed chickens need at least 1 square foot of vent per bird 24/7. In hotter or higher humidity climates that might need to be increased.

Those vents need to be about 12 inches over their roost and covered by the roof so it don't rain on them while open.

 

[jgarner1327]

Standard breed chickens need at least 1 square foot of vent per bird 24/7. In hotter or higher humidity climates that might need to be increased.

but what is permanent ventilation?

 

[neo71665]

but what is permanent ventilation?

open 24/7 AKA all day and night but it needs to be over the birds head on roost.

They need all time vents to exhaust the heat and ammonia they naturally produce in a coop. It needs to be high enough the chooks are not in any wind so they can sleep comfortably. Many people think chicken coops have to be insulated up north and that aint the case. Remember humans have been using down for many years as insulation, guess where that grows.

A nice well vented coop will stay dry and most chickens can stay warm by their own means.

 

[saysfaa]

but what is permanent ventilation?

The above vs something like windows which often people want to count... but then say they will close for the winter or for bad weather. That kind of ventilation is good to have too, but in addition to the permanent kind. Chickens breathe and poop (giving off moisture, ect) in bad weather too.

 

[3KillerBs]

what is permanent ventilation? Is that a vent near the ceiling or an electric fan?

Permanent ventilation is the ventilation that you never close for any reason -- open 24/7/365.

This ventilation is best installed above the chickens' heads while they're sitting on their roost so that there are no drafts no matter how windy. This photo is from an article on cow barns, but the same principle holds.

Windows that are closed in the winter, the pop door, and anything else that you close up sometimes and have open other times are supplemental ventilation. They don't count towards that 1 square foot per hen.

Some people use fans to improve the airflow in their coop but this has to be done with care because installing an ordinary household fan where the motor will be exposed to the dust from feathers and bedding carries a significant risk of fire.

There are fans specifically made for outdoor and/or barn use that are sealed to reduce this risk.

 

[McChooky]

I'd rather have a run around a coop like yours but mines attached to the front. I buried cinder blocks all around the coop and run to deter diggers and added a 2nd row of blocks on the back.A fence all around makes predators have to work twice as hard.

 

[jgarner1327]

Permanent ventilation is the ventilation that you never close for any reason -- open 24/7/365.

This ventilation is best installed above the chickens' heads while they're sitting on their roost so that there are no drafts no matter how windy. This photo is from an article on cow barns, but the same principle holds.

View attachment 2687346

Windows that are closed in the winter, the pop door, and anything else that you close up sometimes and have open other times are supplemental ventilation. They don't count towards that 1 square foot per hen.

Some people use fans to improve the airflow in their coop but this has to be done with care because installing an ordinary household fan where the motor will be exposed to the dust from feathers and bedding carries a significant risk of fire.

There are fans specifically made for outdoor and/or barn use that are sealed to reduce this risk.

Thank you!