Ventilation Adjustment Question

[Mama_Arty]

Hi everyone - so I am trying to figure out ventilation. I know I don't have enough. But I am running into an issue. I know we don't want to create drafts that are going to chill the birds. Mine live in a big wooden tuff shed with a vaulted ceiling. Aside from bedtime and laying - they spend exactly zero time in here. The issue is that, even with all the roost boards and nest boxes and platforms and things to sleep on, they LOVE to sleep in the rafter beams.
We put an exhaust fan on the right side vent window to pull air out of the coop. it never gets turned off, but again, the focus is more about night time concerns. I don't know how I'm supposed to not draft them out if they are sleeping at vent level. Do you think I should eliminate their access to the rafters? Are they "smart enough" to move to a different sleeping area to avoid a draft? I just feel like they are so stubborn that they won't adjust what they like for comforts sake.
For reference, they sleep well above the tops of the windows in the picture. Everyone is a good 6 ft up or higher.
I figure come summer I'm just going to put in predator proof screen doors and leave both doors open (there is a second door with the auto run door on the left.) along with the windows, but the winter thing is losing me.
Thanks for all your input.

 

[Brooks_]

They will naturally seek the highest perch spot. Eliminating access is all you really can do.

Also, I hope the fan is barn rated, a fire risk otherwise.

 

[Mama_Arty]

They will naturally seek the highest perch spot. Eliminating access is all you really can do.

Also, I hope the fan is barn rated, a fire risk otherwise.

Yes it is. Trying not to roast all the chicken lol

 

[DobieLover]

Do you think I should eliminate their access to the rafters?

Yes.
You can staple up some chicken wire to the bottoms of the rafters and around the perimeter of the coop to make a chicken wire ceiling. You can keep the worst of the dust from collecting on the wire by hitting it with a leaf blower occasionally.
You don't want them up that high for more reasons than getting drafts on them. They could injure themselves trying to get down from such heights in a small area.
When tree huggers come out of the trees, they generally have a lot more room to work with to get to the ground without injury.

 

[Mama_Arty]

Yes.
You can staple up some chicken wire to the bottoms of the rafters and around the perimeter of the coop to make a chicken wire ceiling. You can keep the worst of the dust from collecting on the wire by hitting it with a leaf blower occasionally.
You don't want them up that high for more reasons than getting drafts on them. They could injure themselves trying to get down from such heights in a small area.
When tree huggers come out of the trees, they generally have a lot more room to work with to get to the ground without injury.

sounds sensible. Another fun weekend project for the husband lol.
I see what you mean, I try to get out in the morning before the auto-door opens and then I swing open the big door and they fly down from there straight out into the run, but I know if I was a bird, I would totally injure myself trying to maneuver that set up. lol
Thanks for your input.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

What is your weather like? I used to have a couple nuts who always wanted to roost outside unless it was raining or below freezing . I wonder if they liked the breeze when it wasn’t cold outside?

 

[Mama_Arty]

What is your weather like? I used to have a couple nuts who always wanted to roost outside unless it was raining or below freezing . I wonder if they liked the breeze when it wasn’t cold outside?

I'm in north east arkansas. Mild weather for the most part. Cold snaps hit the negatives but only last a day or two. Nights usually don't go under 20. I do however live on top of a mountain so our winds get pretty strong. I have the closed off side of the coop facing the direction most of the cold air comes from though, so it doesn't really get in there.