Ventilation on small coop?

[Ollivander_Chicken]

I am building a small coop and run chicken coop set up in an urban area and I have some questions about the ventilation.

1. how much ventilation space do you need?
2.what kind of ventilation to use?

I plan on getting 3 chickens and my coop is 3x3x2 feet on the inside. the place that I live in never gets lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit and never higher than 80.
please help!
also, do nesting boxes need extra ventilation? I have two attached to the coop. thanks!!

 

[jthornton]

Put your location in your profile so it's always there.

Do you have a photo of the coop? What size chickens?

3' x 3' x 2' is pretty small for a coop and depending on the layout may be too small for 3 full size birds.

JT

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are you building a coop or working with a prefab? With your temperatures you might want to consider doing a more open air style coop (where not all 4 walls are solid) or altering yours to have open walls. This is my old prefab coop, the only solid wall is in the direction of prevailing winds. The chickens have done fine with this even in snow.



If you are building your own, is there any chance you can make the coop larger (I don't know if you have regulations that prevent that)? 4x4 would be easier to build given that wood usually comes in 4' increments, and a 16 sq ft coop would be a better space for 3 birds.

Nest boxes don't need additional ventilation but that said, I cut small windows into mine, both for light and so it's easy to see if chickens/eggs are inside from a glance.

 

[Ollivander_Chicken]

our coop is actually 10.5 sq feet. we live in an urban area with raccoons, skunks, rats, and hawks so I don't think it would be possible to make it open sided. here are some pics. any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hmm that is a bit tough, because of the location, there's not really any obvious places to add a window or vent. One spot that could possibly be opened up is the red wall that's right under the stair step, as the stair should shelter it from winds. I assume you have plumbing above the door, as I see a spiggot. Is there any room above the pop door to add a small vent?

 

[Ollivander_Chicken]

the plumbing is in the house, it is just a hose and a pipe. if it helps, the door to the coop from the run will be open all day
I could possibly add a vent in the nesting boxes to add air flow during the day ?......

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd consider putting a window/vent next to the spigot as well then, as long as it doesn't interfere with the hose. Coops need some light, or it'll be harder to get the chickens to want to go in at the end of the day.

 

[Ollivander_Chicken]

putting the window in that spot will give them light but not air. I can possibly fit a vent on top of the nesting boxes
I would prefer to put the ventilation under the stairs, does that work?

 

[rosemarythyme]

When I say "window" I don't mean it has to be glass. An opening with hardware cloth or welded wire would do.

 

[Ollivander_Chicken]

I know. that part has a slanted plastic roof just under it to protect the chickens from the rain. we can do it but it would only give light