Ventilation for this coop

[Smileybans]

I had this coop built,

ignore the red line that’s where I added a roost, and it only came with that tiny amount of ventilation. The grey box at the top there. I have since removed that tin covering and replaced it with HC but feel like it isn’t enough ventilation. It’s an 8x10 coop. I am unsure how many birds I have in this coop but that tiny hole isn’t enough ventilation either way is it? How do I go about adding more ventilation? Just cut more holes?

 

[GregnLety]

I had this coop built, View attachment 2925560ignore the red line that’s where I added a roost, and it only came with that tiny amount of ventilation. The grey box at the top there. I have since removed that tin covering and replaced it with HC but feel like it isn’t enough ventilation. It’s an 8x10 coop. I am unsure how many birds I have in this coop but that tiny hole isn’t enough ventilation either way is it? How do I go about adding more ventilation? Just cut more holes?

Where I live our summers are brutal but we typically have a southeast breeze. I cut holes in the coops and placed soffit vent covers which are aimed at the oncoming breeze. All 3 of my coops are under a huge oak tree and we covered the tops of the runs so they always have shade. If your coop has power I'd install an exhaust fan with a thermostat to turn it on when the temperature goes into the upper 80s. Hope the advice helps. I can attach pics of our coops once it gets daylight here.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I can't tell what your soffits and overhang looks like and this would have been easier to do as it was built, but cutting out the wall tops at the overhang and protecting against predators with hardware cloth would have added a tremendous amount of ventilation.

I don't know if you can tell much from this photo. I boxed in the area straight above the wall tops with hardware cloth. Some people leave that area open but put hardware cloth on the bottom of a traditional soffit.

 

[Smileybans]

I can't tell what your soffits and overhang looks like and this would have been easier to do as it was built, but cutting out the wall tops at the overhang and protecting against predators with hardware cloth would have added a tremendous amount of ventilation.

I don't know if you can tell much from this photo. I boxed in the area straight above the wall tops with hardware cloth. Some people leave that area open but put hardware cloth on the bottom of a traditional soffit.


View attachment 2925741

I think I know what you mean. I have another coop that is built similar to that.

This one isn’t currently being used for chickens but it has tons of ventilation. Is there a way to add that type of ventilation to the 8x10?

My husbands idea was to cut more holes out next to where the ventilation already is. To expand on what already exists. Would that work?

Where I live our summers are brutal but we typically have a southeast breeze. I cut holes in the coops and placed soffit vent covers which are aimed at the oncoming breeze. All 3 of my coops are under a huge oak tree and we covered the tops of the runs so they always have shade. If your coop has power I'd install an exhaust fan with a thermostat to turn it on when the temperature goes into the upper 80s. Hope the advice helps. I can attach pics of our coops once it gets daylight here.

I have been reading that adding a fan helps tremendously. However my coop doesn’t have power. I have the stuff to add solar to it but we’re going to be moving house soon, hopefully, and I didn’t want to add that until we moved. I tried finding a solar fan but none of them really lived up to my expectations.

 

[rayrose]

I notice you do have one window, which I hope is
covered with HC. I would put at least another window,
also covered with HC on the opposite wall, for cross
ventilation. Also agree with the HC covered eave vents.
My coop is 8x8 with four windows and eave vents on both ends.

 

[waytoomanychickens]

what do the roof overhangs look like? can you include a picture of the coop’s exterior?

 

[Windrider]

If the soffits can't be opened back up, or there is not enough roof overhang to protect them if you can, another option would be to open most or all of that triangle where the current vent is, on both ends of the coop, and cover with hardware cloth (I believe this is called a gable vent). You want your winter ventilation above the chickens' heads, so the windows don't do much once the weather gets cold, as they'll have to be closed.

If the eave overhangs are long at either end over the gable vent, for summer (you get hot and humid, right?) you'd leave them completely open and they'd still be protected from any rain. For winter, many people on BYC with freezing weather have top-hinged awnings or baffles they close down over their big openings. These awnings can be propped open incrementally, but almost (but not fully) closed in fierce weather.

 

[mowin]

I'm in upstate NY also, and you definitely need more ventilation. Rule of thumb is 1 sqf of ventilation per bird.
As mentioned, you can open up the gable ends and cover with HC. Cut the section out, and hinge the piece's on the outside to act as a sort of awning to reduce blowing snow and rain.

 

[3KillerBs]

that tiny hole isn’t enough ventilation either way is it? How do I go about adding more ventilation? Just cut more holes?

You are correct about the tiny hole.

There are a number of ways to add additional ventilation -- soffit and gable being the easiest and probably the most popular.

You could also add a ridge vent, but that will be largely irrelevant during your winters when there is snow on the roof.

Other options include adding a monitor or one or more functional cupolas -- those are a little more challenging construction-wise. What level of handyman skills do you have?

If you don't have enough roof overhang to shelter soffit or gable vents that can be fixed.

Here's how-to (and how not to), extend a roof by sistering the extension to the rafters: https://strousehomeinspections.com/blog/structural-roof-extensions.html

And here is how to use lookouts to extend the roof at right-angles to the rafters: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...e-overhangs-eaves-of-a-shed-coop-house.76599/

This member did a nicer job putting awnings up than I did on my brooder: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/check-out-my-chicken-tractor.1456418/post-24496139

 

[Smileybans]

Here’s the best pictures I have of the outside. I can take better ones tomorrow. These were taken the day it was delivered.

It’s hard to tell from these pictures but there is overhang and a board I think I can take out or cut holes in. To make the soffit ventilation. I would prefer that over the gable vents. Since it sounds, and looks, like they’ll be more protected in the winter. The wind can be pretty harsh sometimes.