Ventilation Advice Appreciated

[Hobbits Mommie]

So, this is my coop, and the run has been started. The entire top of the coop is hardware cloth (with a tarp that we use to cover it during rain storms, and at night). The door is hardware cloth, as is the flooring under the 3 layer roosts.

We're in central Florida, so heat (and predators) is the biggest concern for these guys. We've placed the coop under a canopy of trees, and tried to give them as much ventilation as possible. Now I'm wondering if we should add cross ventilation on each side????

 

[snow5164]

Hello nice set up !
I’d add ventilation cut outs up high and cover with hardware cloth .. cross venting is a gift to your birds.

Why do you have to cover it with a tarp ? Aren’t you putting on a roof ?? Make a big over hang if you do

I have windows on all 4 sides it’s worth the work to put it in .

What kind of birds did you get? They’re cute

 

[Hobbits Mommie]

No roof for two reasons. Code enforcement requires all structures with roofs to be permitted with "two sets of engineering plans". (Live in a hurricane prone area). Second, it's so freaking hot & humid here that if I did put a roof on, I'm pretty sure I'd have to install fans.

My neighbor gifted me 20 mutt chickens, lol, and two turkeys.

 

[aart]

A roof could provide shade in run and protection from rainfall on coop...
... but I get the hurricane part.
I'd be making whole walls mesh on that coop in your climate.

 

[Hobbits Mommie]

A roof could provide shade in run and protection from rainfall on coop...
... but I get the hurricane part.
I'd be making whole walls mesh on that coop in your climate.

We lost one of our chicks to a rat in the beginning (purchased an inadequate coop online). So for a month, we kept them in our laundry room while we built this one. We were so concerned about predator proofing it that I think we nearly made it air tight. Having to rethink some of it now.