Ventilation verification

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
Using the interior windows already suggeested would give you the ventilation you need without going to the trouble of removing the ceiling. I also agree that chicken wire is too weak to keep the birds safe. Consider using welded wire or hardware cloth on the inside and outside "windows". I agree if you are in a cold climate having a solid ceiling will help keep in more heat. Good luck with your build.

 

[kla37]

You can never have too much ventilation! And ditto on not using chicken wire. Start thinking about raccoons like monkeys. They can grip and literally tear open chicken wire, it's so weak. We use 1/4" and 1/2" galvanized hardware cloth on, under, and around our coop and run.

 

[lady feathers]

Keep the ceiling in place and add pop up or swing out windows... you can then increase or decrease as necessary. You can also bore out holes across the top of the coop and back them with hardware cloth too, shouldn't cause drafts but provides some year round ventilation when you need the windows closed up.Wwill give the Besides your girls will love the added sunshine and fresh air plus the view of the outdoors if they have to sty in due to weather and will reward you with lots of yumy eggs!

 

[CopperCT]

Quote:
I guess I should ask how big is the overall barn in comparision to the coop area? If the barn is quite a bit larger the interior "windows" along with the exterior window the ventilation should be sufficient. In my coop I did add two permanent always open 8" X 8" attic style vents at the top of the coop and then have adustable venting along the eaves and two windows and a people plus a chicken door open in the summer for 11 chickens. I live in Connecticut and the adjustable venting is closed when it is cold and fully open all summer. If your barn is large compared to the coop size and not too airtight, the interior window venting along with the outside window should be ok for the summer and will keep it cosy in winter but if the coop area takes up the majority of the barn you may have to find a way to add more vents. Maybe add a few in the ceiling instead of taking the whole thing down?

 

[Nightbrew]

My barn is 60x40 and I typically leave the bay doors on each end open. So with of couples of windows on the interior, do you think it will be sufficient?

 

[CopperCT]

Quote:
Yes I do if it's that large. Not sure if the "room" is actually totally enclosed but if not it's pretty easy to build half walls and then use wire to enclose the top parts. I assume you close the big doors in the winter...is the barn super airtight? If so you might want to add a couple of permanent attic type vents or drill some holes with hardware cloth over them on a couple of outside walls just to add a bit of fresh air in winter as long as they won't blow directly on where the chickens roost. Sounds like a fun project.

 

[Nightbrew]

I wouldnt think of it as super air tight. The coop area is fully enclosed besides the one exterior window and a small door for them to go in and out of. The room was actually used to for an indoor space for monkies prior to my ownership. It is in a corner of the barn and shares a wall with a horse stall, I dont have horses, and 2x12 boards along that wall up to about 6 feet in height. I could open up a portion above those boards and below the ceiling to install some hardware cloth. I think that would be a good compromise.

 

[CopperCT]

Quote:
I agree. You might want to also consider replacing any solid people door with a screened door with hardware cloth on it. That would add a large ventilation window right there but still sheltered for winter temps.

 

[patandchickens]

So, the idea is to ventilate the coop "room" via its ceiling into the rest of the barn?

Most likely that will be fine as far as humidity and ammonia are concerned, as long as the barn is good sized compared to your #chickens and not already real humid. Whether it will be ok TEMPERATURE wise I don't know, it depends where you live and how hot your barn gets.

Another consideration is dust; chickens are super dusty critters (not just their bedding, the chickens *themselves* produce lotsa dust), which you'd want to think about how much you want on the other stuff in the barn.

And, what they said about NOT using chickenwire, use something much stronger and supported by some rafter-type boards.

As a side question is ammonia lighter or heavier than air? Does it sink or rise?

It is heavier than air. But remember, it mixes with the air and if you have reasonable airflow top-ventilation will do an acceptable job.

Honestly, most of the time in a backyard-chicken type situation, if you've got an ammonia problem, you've either got way too many chickens in too small a space or need to rethink your sanitation arrangements.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[urbanfarmette]

if you open up the ceiling, won't it rain on your chickens and bedding? maybe i'm misunderstanding...