Ventilation new coop

[Dazz172]

Hey,
I've just bought a new coop for my 3 girls and am doing a fair bit of modification before put it in place, 1 thing it does not have is ventilation , at all... so I was going to put vents all over it then I thought I could just lift top lid of coop about 1/2 inch or so, see pic, I would make something to have wire all around to prevent predators getting in my question is do u think I still need some vents around it if I had lid up a touch??

 

[AmyJane725]

I'd probably lift the lid a foot and put venting all around that opening to really get some good airflow.
Where are they going to roost though? That coop is really short...

Honestly, I think the lid should be removed and the rest of it built up about 4.5 ft, with the last foot before the roof going back on being ventilation.

Sorry if this comes off as mean or anything. Don't intend it to.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Leaving the lid "lifted" might be a bit difficult, both because of predators and simply because the lid has to rest securely on something. Also a 1/2" gap isn't very much. What I'd do, if possible... cut out the plank that sits between the roof and the taller door. Probably can't do it on all 4 sides but maybe 2 longer sides, or 2 longer + 1 shorter, depending on how your wind blows in the location of the coop. Use hardware cloth or small opening welded wire to cover the openings and either sandwich it between pieces of trim wood or use screws and fender washers to secure.

 

[Dazz172]

I'd probably lift the lid a foot and put venting all around that opening to really get some good airflow.
Where are they going to roost though? That coop is really short...

Honestly, I think the lid should be removed and the rest of it built up about 4.5 ft, with the last foot before the roof going back on being ventilation.

Sorry if this comes off as mean or anything. Don't intend it to.

Well the coop they in now (see pic) is like only 1 3rd the size of that, ( I just recently moved here and it was already here all built with run and everything) yes it is gonna b taller, but not 4.5ft higher as Iam a bit restricted with how high it can go, haven't got round to doing that yet. I was thinking of putting louvers vents around top section of walls aswell? Do u think that's needed? Like can u have too much ventilation?

 

[AmyJane725]

View attachment 1693381
Well the coop they in now (see pic) is like only 1 3rd the size of that, ( I just recently moved here and it was already here all built with run and everything) yes it is gonna b taller, but not 4.5ft higher as Iam a bit restricted with how high it can go, haven't got round to doing that yet. I was thinking of putting louvers vents around top section of walls aswell? Do u think that's needed? Like can u have too much ventilation?

Can't have too much. Absolute bare minimum is 1 sqft per bird, or 10% of total square footage of coop, whichever is larger. People have WAY more than that usually.

Sorry you have height restrictions. I'm just saying I'd raise it as much as you're allowed then, because if your roosts are even with (or lower than) your nest boxes you're going to have poopy eggs. And the ventilation openings should be well above the chickens heads while they're roosting so they don't get chilled by the wind ruffling their feathers. Their combs can get frostbite.

 

[Dazz172]

Can't have too much. Absolute bare minimum is 1 sqft per bird, or 10% of total square footage of coop, whichever is larger. People have WAY more than that usually.

Sorry you have height restrictions. I'm just saying I'd raise it as much as you're allowed then, because if your roosts are even with (or lower than) your nest boxes you're going to have poopy eggs. And the ventilation openings should be well above the chickens heads while they're roosting so they don't get chilled by the wind ruffling their feathers. Their combs can get frostbite.

Ok thanx for that, yeh I live in nsw Australia and where I live it doesn't snow or anything it does have its moments where is gets cold but nowhere near frostbite temps but yeh I don't want them getting cold at nite either

 

[Dazz172]

Do they get cold easily?? Or does it take a bit for them to feel the cold??

 

[AmyJane725]

Do they get cold easily?? Or does it take a bit for them to feel the cold??

They're usually pretty well insulated because of their feathers. Some people keep chickens in below freezing temperatures. They key is, however, the warm pocket of air that their feathers hold around them (like a blanket does for a human. It keeps the air around you warm/contained). If someone took the edges of the blanket and shook them, effectively blowing air under it and allowing your warm air to escape, the blanket would be useless, much the way that a breeze blowing and ruffling up chicken feathers robs them of their insulating properties. This is why it's so important for the vents to be above their heads.

 

[AmyJane725]

I don't claim to be an expert on the weather in Australia, but what I have heard is that it's very hot. What are your temperatures like on the average day/night?

 

[Dazz172]

They're usually pretty well insulated because of their feathers. Some people keep chickens in below freezing temperatures. They key is, however, the warm pocket of air that their feathers hold around them (like a blanket does for a human. It keeps the air around you warm/contained). If someone took the edges of the blanket and shook them, effectively blowing air under it and allowing your warm air to escape, the blanket would be useless, much the way that a breeze blowing and ruffling up chicken feathers robs them of their insulating properties. This is why it's so important for the vents to be above their heads.

Thankyou

They're usually pretty well insulated because of their feathers. Some people keep chickens in below freezing temperatures. They key is, however, the warm pocket of air that their feathers hold around them (like a blanket does for a human. It keeps the air around you warm/contained). If someone took the edges of the blanket and shook them, effectively blowing air under it and allowing your warm air to escape, the blanket would be useless, much the way that a breeze blowing and ruffling up chicken feathers robs them of their insulating properties. This is why it's so important for the vents to be above their heads.

Thankyou , what a great response explained everything perfectly thankyou