Ventilation — Is too much possible?

[chicksofclaridon]

Hello!
This is my first time raising chickens/having a coop and I’m wondering if the ventilation is ok. I know people have said you can never have too much ventilation but I’m just uncertain. I’ll post some pictures to give a better idea, but the coop is an 8x8 shed with a metal roof. I’m terrible at putting this into the right words, but basically the roof is made of three pieces of metal- two that slope up for the sides, and one that runs down the center as sort of a cap over the two other pieces. So the end peaks are open, and there is space for air to move through the length of the roof between the three pieces of metal. I didn’t worry too much about it before, but on a couple of occasions when we got a lot of wind and snow I noticed snow inside on the ground when I went to the coop in the morning. So my question is, is this amount of ventilation ok? Or should the length of the roof be covered (or at least some of it) leaving mainly the end peaks open for ventilation? Thanks in advance!

 

[azygous]

Ventilation is very necessary but it should not cause drafts that blow on the roosting perches. You do want openings at the top of the coop for the exhaust of moist air from the chickens breathing, but you don't need so much that snow and rain come in.

As long as you leave the chicken pop hole open, cool air will be drawn in and it will cause air currents ( not the same as a draft) that will move the warmer air up and out the vents at the top.

 

[Ted Brown]

In my area we get enough snow (I currently have 24"+ on the roofs) that it piles up and will block roof vents such as the ones you have. This may not be a problem in your area but worth keeping your eyes open. Vents on the gable ends would solve the problem if that occurs.

 

[Alaskan]

If the snow is only blowing in on rare occasions I would say "eh" and move on.

The way my shed is set up if it is blowing hard while snowing some snow gets in, but it isn't a big deal.

Especially if your summers are hot I agree with @Ted Brown in that at least one gable end as full vent could be very nice to have. You might have to cover it with grow cloth though in the winter to keep snow out.

 

[chicksofclaridon]

Yeah, it’s only happened twice and the first time was only a tiny bit. I will leave it be for now. There are two windows for a breeze in the summer, but I consider adding the gable vents down the road if necessary. Thank you!

 

[aart]

Wow, that's a lot...but that blizzard was pretty wicked.
I also got some snow blowing into the coop.
'Freak', or rather situational, occurrence... you do not have too much ventilation

You've got a nice coop and run, but you will definitely want more ventilation come summer, start planning it now and put it in before it gets hot.
Are the eaves(low edges of roof) open?
Louvered gable vents would be a good investment...more windows too.

Oh, and, Welcome to BYC!

 

[chicksofclaridon]

Yeah, it was a HUGE amount of snow, but I think it was the "perfect storm" of the wind blowing just the right way and the snow sneaking under the openings. I think I will leave the openings the way they are, then. Yeah, they have the two side windows but I will have to look at adding the gable vents, as the eaves are not open.

And thank you!