Ventilation for coops

[Kayla_and my ducks_4]

Is it better for ventilation to be at the top or bottom of the coop?

 

[IamRainey]

My own response would be get all you can anywhere you can but if you had to make a choice I'd say hot air rises and hot ammonia-laden air needs to be evacuated so go for high ventilation.

Windows that can be opened and closed give more options for providing ventilation or enclosing warmth.

Wherever you leave voids for ventilation be sure to have strong hardware cloth secured with screws and washers or firmly affixed lath overlays and that includes window openings.

 

[Ratchnick]

You want vents at the top above the birds heads so they can stay out of drafts. You dont need opening windows, its a waste. You dont ever want to shut your vents to "hold in warmth". Cold and dry is much better then still cold and wet. 1 sqft per bird or more. Its not windy in the winter at my location so i have an entire wall that is hardware cloth.

 

[3bird]

Top for sure! There are a couple reasons why, but one is that ventilation on our coops/duckhouses also often means an opportunity for draft/wind. The most important thing is to provide a draft-free space for ducks in the winter (they've mostly got the cold covered with fat and down!). Also, think about all those vents you see on the roofs of barns and commercial chicken facilities. There is a reason for that.

We vent with four windows that have sliding plexiglass that allows us to adjust based on the direction of the wind/weather and what the temperature is.

 

[IamRainey]

Disagree about opening windows. I don't think they should be the primary tool for providing ventilation but when ventilation is adequately provided for being able to make adjustments is a good thing.

I wouldn't go for anything double hung but a simple hinged panel is useful and inexpensive. Of course, I'm housing chickens. The needs of ducks may be different.

 

[steve&kris]

You want vents at the top above the birds heads so they can stay out of drafts. You dont need opening windows, its a waste. You dont ever want to shut your vents to "hold in warmth". Cold and dry is much better then still cold and wet. 1 sqft per bird or more. Its not windy in the winter at my location so i have an entire wall that is hardware cloth.

I would have disagreed with not shutting windows in the winter a few years ago....and still struggle with thinking that a little extra warmth isn't nice for the birds... but in the big picture if your birds are healthy and you don't have a rooster ripping all the feathers off your hens backs, this is probably very true. I've had multiple chickens who for one reason or another have chosen to live outside all winter. We had to remove one from the top of the flight pen that had ice sickles growing off of it, and others that we've seen with an inch of snow on them sleeping in pine trees. I don't suggest this...and it's a sign there's either something wrong with the coop (too dirty or wet) or that the chx have been scared by a predator in the coop... but it does let you know how hardy chickens are. We treat them a lot more gently than they probably require. But, they're pets to us in a way also, so we want them to be comfortable, not just alive. All that being said... great point that cold dry is waaaay better than cold wet. Change their straw often and don't let it get loaded down with wet chx feces and they'll be pretty happy regardless of temperature (to some level, of course.... 0 degrees F maybe?).

 

[Kayla_and my ducks_4]

I would have disagreed with not shutting windows in the winter a few years ago....and still struggle with thinking that a little extra warmth isn't nice for the birds... but in the big picture if your birds are healthy and you don't have a rooster ripping all the feathers off your hens backs, this is probably very true. I've had multiple chickens who for one reason or another have chosen to live outside all winter. We had to remove one from the top of the flight pen that had ice sickles growing off of it, and others that we've seen with an inch of snow on them sleeping in pine trees. I don't suggest this...and it's a sign there's either something wrong with the coop (too dirty or wet) or that the chx have been scared by a predator in the coop... but it does let you know how hardy chickens are. We treat them a lot more gently than they probably require. But, they're pets to us in a way also, so we want them to be comfortable, not just alive. All that being said... great point that cold dry is waaaay better than cold wet. Change their straw often and don't let it get loaded down with wet chx feces and they'll be pretty happy regardless of temperature (to some level, of course.... 0 degrees F maybe?).

Okay that makes sense! It was -20s during the day and -30s at night this past winter and the ice was tremendous in the coop. It’s much warmer in the 40s now and there isn’t ice luckily!!! I hope this upcoming winter isn’t this cold. Thank you so so much!