Ventilation advice for my coop???

[aart]

Are those windows metal framed?
The 2x4 frames to attach the HC(use screws and washers) is a great idea, but if you could top hinge the paned windows,
you can prop them open them for air and they act as awnings and if you close them you still have light.

But I know... screws, washers and hinges can add up.

 

[TBirdsTheWord33]

JanetS, since money is tight and because we are firm believers in utilizing whatever is available to us, we simply cleaned up our old milkhouse and converted it into a coop. It was practically free. You can't beat the price! I would get pictures of the inside, but it's modest to the point of embarrassment. Really. The roosts are nothing more than large branches or segments of small dead trees from our property. We have a utility sink in there, and we'd love to use it... if only our barn still had running water.

 

[TBirdsTheWord33]

Aart, yes, the window frames are metal, though old and pretty rusty. I already have the hardware cloth, wood, circular saw, drill, tinsnips, screws, and washers, so a few hinges probably wouldn't hurt too much. I'll have to look into that. Thanks for the idea!

 

[Ifish]

I actually just did a very similar project. Our old milk house is slightly different than yours, but same basic setup.

I removed the old windows, put wire cloth over them on the outside, then screwed old 2x4's into the concrete block over the mesh. This has worked out very well so far. I plan on building shutter for the windows as well in the next few weeks. Also will build a new door that is wood frame and wire cloth for more ventilation.

I plan on shutting the back windows where the laying boxes and roosts will be, in the winter. The front windows and screen door should provide plenty of ventilation while having a dead air spot around the nests and roosts to keep drafts down in that area.

Does yours have a wooden ceiling inside? Ours does so I added vents in the wooden ceiling to help get heat and moisture up and out the gable vents.

The inside of the milk house was pretty nasty. Took a lot to clean it out and the old milk tank was still in there. Instead of removing the tank, I built a wall and fenced it off from the chickens. Not ideal, but there is plenty of room in there for now. I may end up building broody pens on top of the milk tank to use that space. So don't worry about posting pics or being embarrassed. The chickens don't care how pretty the coop is.

 

[TBirdsTheWord33]

Ifish, I also envisioned a similar door for our coop. It makes me wonder how many other people are using their old milk houses as coops! And you're right about the chickens not caring about how the coop looks. Ours spend their days joyfully running around, pecking in the yard and pretty much only go in to lay, eat, and drink. We close them in at night, and by morning when we open up the coop, they're ready to trample anything and everything in their path!