Ventilation Question

[CompostQueen]

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[CompostQueen]

Quote:
Okay cool. I think too that it is hard to explain through words just what I am trying to do, it kind of gets lost in translation. I am going to do more investigation of what has worked for people around here too. A neighbor of mine has a very similar set up and has had her chickens in it for 3 years with great success. Here in Virginia it really does not get that cold for a prolonged amount of time. We often go winters with no snow at all.

 

[GoAngels]

Can the skylights at the top of the roof be removed? That would provide additional ventilation and then you could put a rain cover up there. Might not be necessary but it would allow heat to escape from the highest point on the roof.

 

[JulieZ]

Speaking from experience & received lots of help from folks here in the forum ... Put windows in. We have a 10x12 shed & during the winter time it was fine but when the Florida heat hit ... it was as if I was cooking my birds.

Rodney cut out two holes on the side of the shed. He then used wood to create a frame, added wire & screwed it into the shed. (that's woman lingo btw) We have two on the side & on the upper back has a vent hole where we have a small fan blowing air out. we will be putting in two more windows on the back part of the shed this weekend.

With the storms lately, because we have the shed around a lot of trees, there is no rain going in but a mist from time to time will sneak in. The chickens do not mind.

Before the winter gets here, Rodney will be adding a hinged "door" on the frame of the windows he placed in. We'll be able to shut them as needed or leave them open but that's a future plan.

Seriously ... I'm using a shed right now ... add the window ventelation or your chickens will die. There's no other way to say it. It's a cooker in there without them & still heats up with them. We have a fan inside & will be adding a mister soon enough to the run.

Julie

 

[CompostQueen]

Quote:
Hmmm... interesting point!

They definitely could be cut out. We haven't put the roof on yet (plan to do it tonight) so now would be the best time to do that. So you are suggesting putting hardware cloth in their place? What sort of rain cover? Thanks for brainstorming with me!

~Emily

 

[JulieZ]

Forgot to add ... our run is chicken wire from top to bottom. To help bring the temps down about 10 degrees, we place a tarp on top of the run. Lots of shade that helps during this heat.

I still have the photographs up from our coop build if you want to see them ... do a search on JulieZ ... hope this helps.

Julie

 

[CompostQueen]

Quote:
Julie- I hear you loud and clear. Thanks for your directness. When I put them outside I am going to do as Pat suggested and put them in a tall brooder with the doors and window open. I also am going to monitor them VERY carefully and if it is just too hot even that way I am going to pull them back in.
It sounds like you have a great carpenter and a awesome set up!

~Emily

 

[GoAngels]

Quote:
Hmmm... interesting point!

They definitely could be cut out. We haven't put the roof on yet (plan to do it tonight) so now would be the best time to do that. So you are suggesting putting hardware cloth in their place? What sort of rain cover? Thanks for brainstorming with me!

~Emily

Yeah, I would put hardware cloth there. Depending on how much rain you get, you could either 1) put a raised cover over the top to protect from rain but keep the ventilation or 2) (if you don't get much rain) just put a tarp over it when the rain comes.

I live in Southern California where it only rains about 3-4 months out of the year in the winter and we usually get a lot of warning when it happens so I would opt for 2 in my climate.

 

[CompostQueen]

Quote:
We get a fair amount of rain here- often without any warning. What would the covers look like? I am having trouble picturing it.


Question for Pat- This may be a silly question but is the objective with ventilation in chicken coops to have as much different types of ventilation as possible (with ways to close it all) so that you can be flexible depending on what the weather is doing?

 

[GoAngels]

Quote:
We get a fair amount of rain here- often without any warning. What would the covers look like? I am having trouble picturing it.


Question for Pat- This may be a silly question but is the objective with ventilation in chicken coops to have as much different types of ventilation as possible (with ways to close it all) so that you can be flexible depending on what the weather is doing?

It is called a ridge vent. Here is a series of pictures of what it looks like on a house: http://media.photobucket.com/image/...idge vent/earthad12/soffit-ridge_vent.jpg?o=9