Ventilation inquiry

[bellium]

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!

 

[3KillerBs]

For 15 hens you need 15 square feet of ventilation. Having 8 feet of height is great because if the soffit vents you're planning don't add up to enough you can add more vents high on the walls and still be well over the birds' heads when they're sitting on their roosts.

You may need to add awnings to keep the rain out, another place where having the extra height is good.

 

[aart]

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?

Take it all out, then cover with HC.

 

[WonkierZulu]

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!

The window is terminated incorrectly needs a z metal maybe in the picture but I can't see. Otherwise nice chicken coop

 

[WonkierZulu]

You can also caulk it really heavy. Paint it afterwards it should last a long time

 

[Alaskan]

I see you are in NY.

That makes me worry that the chickens will be cooped up for too long during snowy periods and start to eat each other.

I would figure out how to extend a roof off of the coop. It would be great if you could roof an 8x16 area of run. Then the coop wall that is now protected by the run roof can be half ripped out and replaced with wire for great ventilation.

The run can have some wind breaks attached to the roofed area to keep out snow.


Yes, lots of work. But then you have a great snow free run area that the chickens can access all year around so WAY happier chickens and WAY less risk of cannibalism. And, wonderfully sheltered ventilation.