Ventilation Question

[AmyJane725]

Hey guys,

Trying to get the finer details of my coop design down, and I'm stuck on ventilation.

I've read some things that say 1 sqft per chicken and others that say more or less.

Given my location, how much do I need?
ALSO: Do these need to be windows that can be closed, or is always open fine?

Winter is usually mid 20s to high 40s.
Summer is usually high 50s to mid 80s.

The highest recorded temperature in Olympia is 104.0°F (40°C), The lowest recorded temperature in Olympia is -8.0°F (-22.2°C). Both of these are very very unusual though. Usually the extremes are more like mid 20s to mid 90s.

This thread uses a formula that might be useful, but I want to double check. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/venting-is-it-really-1-sq-ft-of-vent-per-chicken.506445/

I'm not sure what the variables all mean...

Q=9.4*A*sqroot of (h(t inside-t out)/t inside))

 

[wamtazlady]

I used to live over your way so know about the weather. It is suggested that you allow 1 square feet of ventilation per chicken. I have a 6 foot by 8 foot coop with 10 or 11 square feet and 7 birds. The vents are never closed. The windows are lower in the coop and do get closed for winter. The vents are for the most part tucked under the eaves where no rain or snow gets in. You do not have to worry about cold weather there. Chickens wear a down jacket year round. At -22 F my birds are out in their run. Place the vents in areas where there will be no direct breeze blowing on the birds when they roost.

I do hope you cover your run so the chickens can go out even when it rains. My run is covered and 3 sides are covered in clear vinyl shower curtains that I picked up from the dollar store. This keeps the wind off them.

A dry chicken is a warm chicken. That is why you want enough ventilation in the coop because chickens make a lot of humidity with pooping and breathing. That is also why I suggest the covered run. Depending on how you place your coop you also might have to provide drainage of some sort for the rain.

 

[AmyJane725]

I do hope you cover your run so the chickens can go out even when it rains. My run is covered and 3 sides are covered in clear vinyl shower curtains that I picked up from the dollar store. This keeps the wind off them.

Do you think I should cover the entire run, or just like half of it or something? Gonna be 15x18'. With there be enough airflow in the run if I put curtains on 3 sides? seems like it would get stale/humid in my climate. Is that what you had when you lived here, or is that what you have now?

 

[rosemarythyme]

It is suggested that you allow 1 square feet of ventilation per chicken. I have a 6 foot by 8 foot coop with 10 or 11 square feet and 7 birds. The vents are never closed.

I've also lived in Olympia before (but did not have chickens there), it can get some cold and wet spells but nothing that's so bad that chickens need to be locked in for it.

My coop is 6x10, currently 7 chickens, with about 32 sq ft of vents (not counting any doors) provided I don't close up anything. This winter I closed the 2 windows right next to the roost so current ventilation is around 24.5 sq ft. No condensation issues at all.

If you can afford it, it's best to have some vents that can open and close (like windows) in case you feel you must close them. Roof area venting generally stays open year round. Aim to have most of the vents placed high up.

My run isn't roofed. I kinda wish it was given the snow this year, and for extra predator protection! But because I don't have drainage issues on my lot rain isn't an issue. I don't windbreak my run at all but we haven't seen a need for it either.

 

[AmyJane725]

My coop is 6x10, currently 7 chickens, with about 32 sq ft of vents (not counting any doors) provided I don't close up anything. This winter I closed the 2 windows right next to the roost so current ventilation is around 24.5 sq ft. No condensation issues at all.

Wow, that's a well ventilated coop. I was thinking of doing something like this, with the vents under the eaves of the upper roof (but obviously there would be more space than this one has. With this in mind, do you think it's important to have some extra windows that close, or if I have them all up high and permanently open is that fine too? And I read that there should be a vent towards the bottom of the coop to let air in, and I also read that this isn't necessary. Thoughts?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I was thinking of doing something like this, with the vents under the eaves of the upper roof (but obviously there would be more space than this one has. With this in mind, do you think it's important to have some extra windows that close, or if I have them all up high and permanently open is that fine too? And I read that there should be a vent towards the bottom of the coop to let air in, and I also read that this isn't necessary. Thoughts?

View attachment 1686287

I see a ridge vent and maaaybe some under the roof overhang? Putting some under a roofed overhang, whether in the soffit or the under eave wall is usually optimal as they don't get blocked by snow and the overhang protects it from rain and wind as well. Gable vents usually work as well because they usually have some sort of louver style cover to deflect rain and wind. Ridge vents can get blocked up by snow by the way, had that this last big snowstorm but the other vents weren't affected.

I do have floor vents... I have to admit I don't know it they're "optimal" or not - probably varies by each build. My shed builder suggested it for airflow so I put them in.

I'm a huge fan of windows (I have 5) because not only do they add ventilation, but LIGHT. A dark coop is a coop chickens won't want to go into and is frankly miserable to clean, since you can't see anything and who wants to fumble with a flashlight? I put some puck lights into the coop too but rarely use them, the ambient light from the windows is usually enough.

 

[wamtazlady]

Do you think I should cover the entire run, or just like half of it or something? Gonna be 15x18'. With there be enough airflow in the run if I put curtains on 3 sides? seems like it would get stale/humid in my climate. Is that what you had when you lived here, or is that what you have now?

For the past several years I have just put a tarp over my run. Someone would have to get the snow off when we had a heavy snowfall. By late winter the tarp had developed holes and leaked. This year my whole run is covered with a tin roof. Whether you roof the whole run or just part of it is up to you. I think it's great to have a dry place for the chickens to be outside no matter what the weather is doing. I keep the food and water in the run year round.

I believe a 15 foot long side of a run that is open to the air would keep the run well ventilated. If you are worried about ventilation you can also leave the top foot of the 3 sides of the run uncovered. If you only roof part of your run then you will also have that area open to the sky. Also, the shower curtains would only be up when it's winter. The rest of the year your run would be open to the breezes. The idea of the shower curtains is to not let wind ruffle the chicken's feathers. Chickens trap heat under their feathers. When the feathers get ruffled they can lose that heat.

I think one of your biggest concerns is keeping the floor of the run as dry as possible. I remember the ground getting saturated with water fairly often when I lived over there. I have a similar problem here due to not realizing the coop is not in a good spot. Now that it's built it is too late to move it so I had to do some improvements to keep the run from becoming mud.

 

[AmyJane725]

I think one of your biggest concerns is keeping the floor of the run as dry as possible. I remember the ground getting saturated with water fairly often when I lived over there. I have a similar problem here due to not realizing the coop is not in a good spot. Now that it's built it is too late to move it so I had to do some improvements to keep the run from becoming mud.

I've been told the chickens will eventually turn all the ground inside the run to dirt, which will eventually become mud. What do you recommend for this? Thick layer of wood chips?

Also, the pop door stays open all day right? Does this count as having a vent down low? Or would it only count if it was open at night too?

And ideally, so they don't get cold, how high above the tallest chicken should any venting be? Is 6 inches enough? Probably not...

 

[wamtazlady]

I've been told the chickens will eventually turn all the ground inside the run to dirt, which will eventually become mud. What do you recommend for this? Thick layer of wood chips?

Also, the pop door stays open all day right? Does this count as having a vent down low? Or would it only count if it was open at night too?

And ideally, so they don't get cold, how high above the tallest chicken should any venting be? Is 6 inches enough? Probably not...

I used wood shavings and hayto raise the floor of the run. I did that for a short term solution during my first winter. A more permanent solution would be to install a french drain.

Yes, the pop door stays open all day so that the birds have access to the coop and the nesting boxes. If you close the pop door at night then it would not be considered a low vent. Night time is when your birds will be in the coop. Ideally the birds will be outside during the day. The idea for the vents is to get the warm moist air out of the coop as the birds breathe and poop while they sleep.

Whether 6 inches above the birds' heads is enough depends. If that vent it on the side where there is wind then the vent is probably not going to work well. I have read where people put light ribbons in the coop to look for windy areas when they are setting up their vents. One of my vents is about even with the roosts. That vent is protected by the house. The coop is built into the corner of an L shaped house. It is only a few feet from the house. A hill blocks any wind that might try to get in from the more open side. No breeze gets in that vent. There are also several threads in the forums on how to do your vents. Use the search feature to find them.

 

[AmyJane725]

Is having a vent down lower in the coop necessary? I've gotten kind of mixed reviews on that just looking at other boards.

If it is necessary, how low should it be? Like, as low as possible, or just somewhere below the upper vents? My coop is currently designed to have a foot of space between the nesting boxes and the roost, and the roost will have a strip of venting above it. Should the low vent be in that foot of space below the roost/above the nesting boxes? So, basically vents above and below the roost? Or am I supposed to go as low as possible without having it in the litter?