ventilation question- shed roof on chicken coop

[SusanME]

After obsessively researching chicken coop designs for two weeks, I think I've found something I like and can build. (I'm pretty handy & have built bookshelves & done home improvements, but never built a structure.) The only difference is, I'm going to put a shed roof on it.
My question is- how much ventilation should I leave around the top of a shed roof? I've seen some people put hardware cloth all around the shed roof section (essentially, the triangle on top of the square section of the end walls, if that makes sense). I live in downeast Maine, and it gets rather cold here. I'd wonder if I'd need to close off some of that ventilation in winter? Here's an idea of what I mean with the hardware cloth on the shed roof section: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/urbanmikes-no-idea-what-im-doing-coop-run.1363370/

Here are my basic plans...imagine a shed roof and a run with a shed roof attached.
https://myoutdoorplans.com/animals/large-chicken-coop-plans/

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's important to have good ventilation in winter, to let moisture out in the coop so that frostbite doesn't become a major issue.

Hmm this one says it was built off the same design as yours: https://myoutdoorplans.com/brags/diy-large-lean-to-chicken-coop/ . The front and back vents in this version would be good in a colder climate as the overhang provides some weather protection. I'd probably axe the triangle side vents or put buffers/louvers/awning over it simply because the roof won't provide the same coverage over those points, or extend out the roof to do so.

 

[K0k0shka]

My coop is a lean-to shed type as well. I'm in MA so it gets cold here, too. I read a lot about ventilation and my impression is that fresh air is more important than temperature, so I gave it some substantial vents. Basically when I was cutting the wall pieces, I cut them short so they don't go all the way up to the roof. Now there are 6"-tall vent openings spanning the whole perimeter under the roof.

Here's what the coop looks like - you can see the vents under the roof:

I'm in the process of finishing the run, so this photo doesn't show the whole setup, but the coop is done.

And here are some close-ups of the vents:

 

[Ridgerunner]

People north of you (Nova Scotia) have written about their chickens sleeping in trees in winter. Those chickens are not on a bare branch overhanging a bluff defiantly squawking in the teeth of a howling blizzard. They were in a sheltered place where wind doesn't really hit them. But you can't get much better ventilation than sleeping in trees. The coldest I've seen that was during my youth where it was -10* F. I imagine you get colder than that.

When we lock them in a coop we take away some of their ability to get out of a wind. We can make our coops into wind tunnels. If the wind is howling above their heads and not hitting them, it doesn't matter because it's not hitting them. How tall your coop is and where your roosts are located are important details.

With a shed roof I'm assuming a single sloped roof. I prefer those myself, easier to build. I would leave the tops of the two side walls open all the way across and cover with hardware cloth for predator protection. I don't know the size of the lumber you will use for your rafters, it needs to be strong enough for snow load. But that gives you a natural depth to leave open.

When I built mine (I enclosed the end of a shed) I did leave that triangle and covered with hardware cloth. Some rain and snow would blow in but with all the ventilation and the chickens turning the bedding it usually dried out pretty quickly. But this was in Arkansas, hot summers. I would not think it necessary in Maine. Thanks for including your location it helps.