Venting your coop

[TexasSam]

where would be the best place to vent your coop above your roost or below I just built one and have been wondering if I am right on my big coop I built 6 months ago.
The big one has vents at the overhangs and it's just under the roost. The new one I put the vent above the roost at the peaks. Neither of them have vents down low.

 

[BYCforlife]

where would be the best place to vent your coop above your roost or below I just built one and have been wondering if I am right on my big coop I built 6 months ago.
The big one has vents at the overhangs and it's just under the roost. The new one I put the vent above the roost at the peaks. Neither of them have vents down low.

I have a 1 foot square window on one side of my coop and a hole in my little chicken door on the other end. It always smells fresh in the coop as long as I don't let the junk pile up.

 

[barred2rock]

It's best to have the perches below the vents to avoid drafts.

 

[aart]

where would be the best place to vent your coop above your roost or below I just built one and have been wondering if I am right on my big coop I built 6 months ago.
The big one has vents at the overhangs and it's just under the roost. The new one I put the vent above the roost at the peaks. Neither of them have vents down low.

Can depend on temps...Texas makes me think hot, so it wouldn't matter....but if it gets cold where you are you might need to baffle any vent near roosts in winter.
Always good to have some venting low, usually the pop door takes care of it during the day.

Posting some pics of your coops, inside and out, might help garner more specific and accurate advice.

Might get some hints from this thread:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048597/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts

 

[TexasSam]

Can depend on temps...Texas makes me think hot, so it wouldn't matter....but if it gets cold where you are you might need to baffle any vent near roosts in winter.
Always good to have some venting low, usually the pop door takes care of it during the day.

Posting some pics of your coops, inside and out, might help garner more specific and accurate advice.

Might get some hints from this thread:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1048597/ventilated-but-free-of-drafts

This was helpful I'm not worried about if they have enough ventilation during the summer I know they do. I want to make sure I have what they need in the winter. I know I live in Texas and it's hot here but the winters are very humid and as you can see from the pics there roost is pretty high up. I have one down low but the only ones that use the low ones are the bantams. Will I need to close off the overhang vents that are pretty much the same level as the roost or move the roost down below the vents?

 

[aart]

move the roost down below the vents?

Yes, this^^

Leave the eaves open, but cover with 1/2" hardware cloth from the outside to keep predators out.

Here's my theory on the 'stack up' aspect to coop design:

Bottom of pop door is best about 8" above floor so bedding doesn't get dragged out of coop.

Nice to have bottom of nests about 18" above bedding to allow use of that floor space under them(doesn't count if your nests are mounted on outside of coop).

Roosts are best about 12" higher than nests so birds won't roost(sleep) in nests and poop in them, if you use poop boards under roosts it will also 'stretch' your floor space.

Upper venting works best as high as possible above roosts so no strong drafts hit roosts in winter...and hot/moist air and ammonia can rise and exit coop.

 

[TexasSam]

Yes, this^^

Leave the eaves open, but cover with 1/2" hardware cloth from the outside to keep predators out.

Here's my theory on the 'stack up' aspect to coop design:

Bottom of pop door is best about 8" above floor so bedding doesn't get dragged out of coop.

Nice to have bottom of nests about 18" above bedding to allow use of that floor space under them(doesn't count if your nests are mounted on outside of coop).

Roosts are best about 12" higher than nests so birds won't roost(sleep) in nests and poop in them, if you use poop boards under roosts it will also 'stretch' your floor space.

Upper venting works best as high as possible above roosts so no strong drafts hit roosts in winter...and hot/moist air and ammonia can rise and exit coop.

I will move the roost down that will probably help keep them cooler in the summer as well. As for my overhang vents they are covered with screen material so predators can't get in

 

[aart]

they are covered with screen material so predators can't get in

Looks like fiberglass window screen?
That'll keep insects out and may slow down a weasel or a coon, but it can be chewed thru pretty easily.

 

[MrPepers]

where would be the best place to vent your coop above your roost or below I just built one and have been wondering if I am right on my big coop I built 6 months ago.
The big one has vents at the overhangs and it's just under the roost. The new one I put the vent above the roost at the peaks. Neither of them have vents down low.

The best place for a vent is the highest point in the coop to allow heat to escape. You could also put another vent closer to the bottom on the opposite end to allow passive air circulation.