Vent vs. Draft - I'm so confused!

[3scorpios]

Just got my new coop and will be getting chickens next week. We are trying to prepare our coop for the winter - which is very cold up here on the mountain. I read that they must have ventilation, but also they need to be protected from drafts. We bought a finished coop, but we need to do some modifications such as adding insulation board. We wonder if installing 2" round vents near the the top of the coop would provide adequate ventilation (during winter months - in the summer we can just open the windows) or if they would create to much draft.

Here are pics of our coop:

 

[Omran]

you got a very nice coop, but you need more that 2" round ventilation for it, you must have at least 2'x3" on two of the walls that is a minimum, if you go to the search and read the thred from patandtje chickens ( she has written an excellent thred about the ventilation.

 

[Moabite]

Chickens can take the cold, but they are heavy breathers, their moist breath becomes their worst enemy when the temps drop. You want to avoid a low and high openings that will "draft" cold air across them where they roost. High up ventilation works very well as there warm moist breath rises and can escape. Chickens come with their own insulation, but it isn't very effective if it is damp. Two inch diameter vents will not be effective enough. With your coop, I'd build a roof cap thing like a miniature church steeple. Ha ha .... your neighbors may wonder about you if you do that though.

 

[SteveBaz]

Very nice Coop

Looking at your unit they have a window on 1 side. Cut a small 4" X 12" in the door and you will have air flow from door thru window or visa versa. When you want the air to flow open both when you want just air open window or door flap or leave both closed for extreme cold.

Look at the vent in my brooder. You will be able to hinge the piece you cut out and a barrel bolt. Use a jig saw to cut a clean cut.

Good luck,

Steve

 

[bairo]

all very good suggestions. rule of thumb is 1 sq/ft always on ventilation per chicken. I found it difficult to get the type of ventilation I needed and keep the draft away from the roosting bar....so after hours of thinking about it I decided to buffer the two big vents on that end of the coop. I cut 4 pieces of 5 inch 2x4 and attached those to the wall at the corners of the vent on the inside of the coop, then cut a piece of plywood to sit on those 2x4 standoffs. Now it vents over there but air enters from the sides and does not blow across. I used (2) small roof vents form lowes and those were only 7 dollars. That counted for 2 feet alone, the 2 big buffered vents are 2 apiece, then I have a one in each gable (one above roost bar is buffered) and those are 2 apiece. Im actually shy just a tad...but the two roof vents pull pretty well and I have not had a problem. Now no one run off and patent my buffer idea, LOL

 

[SteveBaz]

Quote:
Nice!! X2

 

[3scorpios]

Quote:
Can you post a pic of your vent? If you look at my second photo it shows a long vent window (closed) w/ no buffer, sounds like what you started out with. I like the roof vent idea, had been thinking about that but I always hate the idea of cutting a hole in a roof, just seems like opening a whole new can of worms. But of course, a vent in the roof makes more sense because it isn't as drafty.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I'll follow up w/ photos as we work on our coop.

 

[debid]

I believe the word Moabite was looking for is "cupola". That's what is traditionally used on a barn with the sort of roof line you have. Something like that would look good and with such a pretty coop, I'd go that route. I've also seen a whirly bird vent used to avoid making big holes in the walls. Installed properly, they won't leak.

 

[3scorpios]

Quote:
Funny, I never would have thought of chickens as "heavy breathers". That's interesting though, thanks.

 

[3scorpios]

Quote:
Thanks Steve. I like your run. We haven't built ours yet. What's that hanging in the bag over the feeder?