Ventilation on Amish Style Coop

[Aunt Tat]

We're buying our neighbor's "Over E-Z Amish Style coop". - it has 2 windows above the nest box, SUPPOSED to hold 20 chickens, but I have plans for 6 - 8 at the MOST! (she said)

I know the windows can be opened and allow ventilation, but those tiny vents above the Human door and the pop door just drive me nuts! I'd like to either cut out the area where the vents are and cover with hardware cloth and trim OR cut out an area across from the windows, above the roosts for additional ventilation.

Anyone have any suggestions...I mean...those holes/vents just don't seem right to me!

Thankew very much!

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Can you post a picture?

 

[DougVC]

Probably have more space above the roosts for a bigger hole to get more ventilation. The small spots above the doors likely would not be worth the hassle to screw around with as you would not gain much. Also get nice cross ventilation from the windows to a vent above the roosts. One thing to consider would be drafts and if you have a big vent above the roosts you would want to make sure you can close it off on really cold nights.

 

[Aunt Tat]

Can you post a picture?

 

[Aunt Tat]

The coop on top with the yellow circle is one of the vents I was talking about. It's MAYBE 3" in diameter. There's an identical one on the other side above the pop door.

The bottom coop with the hardware cloth covered opening above the roost is what I personally feel more comfortable with PLUS the windows that open/close.

 

[AprilsZoo]

When I opened the picture you posted I thought— “Is it just me or do the windows in the picture of the exterior not match the windows in the interior photo?”
Then I re-read what you said in the post.

It’s a nice looking coop. Plenty big enough for 6-8 birds (Can’t imagine 20 would fit, but hard to know without seeing inside)

I agree with Doug... it’s probably not worth bothering with the vents above the door. I think adding hardware cloth-backed ventilation slats (see below for example) *in* the human door and on the wall above the pop door would probably be plenty if you will open the windows at least occasionally.

As Doug also mentioned, you’ll need to consider how you’ll close things up when temperatures drop. Maybe something like a wire bracket into which a board could be inserted (Of course, I can’t find an example when I want one, but it’s a wire “pocket’’ (used in pairs) that mounts on a surface/wall to allow the bottom corners of a board or plaque to slip in. The wire part then goes diagonally across the corner of the board, etc... I hope that makes sense)

 

[saysfaa]

Ventilation "above the roosts" means above the chickens while they are in the roosts so that the airflow is over their heads instead of being a draft on them. At least in cold weather, a draft on them ruffles their feathers so that they don't hold the warmed air in all the tiny air pockets under and between the feathers.

Ventilation is more important in cold weather; it isn't the cold that harms them, it is the moisture in the cold if it isn't carried away by the ventilation.

You might be able to raise the roof a couple of feet - probably easiest to add it to the bottom of the coop.

 

[janiedoe]

There is another member who has one of these. I remember reading her post. I'll tag her @Callender Girl
I saw one at Atwoods I thought the roosts were a little close to the wall, and I certainly wouldn't cramp 20 chickens into it but it was very sturdily built. Nice score!

 

[3KillerBs]

I'd pull the siding off the entire gable triangle on both ends and replace it with hardware cloth.

You need 1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation per hen and that ventilation is best placed above the birds' heads while they are sitting on the roost.

 

[3KillerBs]

Ventilation is more important in cold weather; it isn't the cold that harms them, it is the moisture in the cold if it isn't carried away by the ventilation.

Yes!