My husband and I are currently building a new coop for our growing flock, and I was hoping for some advice on ventilation. This coop is 8’x6’ and about 8’ high - it will house 15 chickens, provided all my current chicks turn out to be girls, and grow to adulthood. Our chickens free range most days and come to the coop for the night, but when it is very cold or snowing they tend to stay inside, and our current coop was fine when we had 6 hens but won’t accommodate 15 comfortably for that.
Anyway, my husband’s plan is to cut out several sections of the wood on the underside of the eaves on the front and back of the coop and install hardware cloth for ventilation. Will this be adequate? I had originally suggested hardware cloth on the slanted sections of the short sides of the coop, but he is concerned because that will let in moisture. Any advice is greatly appreciated, thank you!
Anyway, my husband’s plan is to cut out several sections of the wood on the underside of the eaves on the front and back of the coop and install hardware cloth for ventilation. Will this be adequate? I had originally suggested hardware cloth on the slanted sections of the short sides of the coop, but he is concerned because that will let in moisture. Any advice is greatly appreciated, thank you!