Vents and Coop Size

[ChickenMarc]

Hi all ... many posts on this already but I wanted to post my coop size and get some feedback.

I have a two story coop with a roof and an upstairs "sleeping area". The sleeping area is fully enclosed except for the opening by the ramp. The sleeping area is about 4 feet by 4 feet and 3 feet high - sleeps 6 chickens. The chickens are free range during the day and the entire coop is mostly in the shade.

However it gets pretty warm and muggy here (Florida) and I am concerned that there isn't enough ventilation when they are locked up at night. I considered 1000 cu feet per hour solar fan to mount in the roof (like on a boat) to get airflow going. Do you guys think that is sufficient?

I saw recommendations to cut additional holes in the coop for ventilation - however my neighborhood is infested with rats and I do not want to expose the chickens any further (I realize rats can chew through anything).

Thoughts? Here is a link to the exact coop I have.


http://www.petco.com/product/120107...ouse Chicken Coop in Taupe & Off-White-120107

 

[Judy]

I haven't had rats chew through wire mesh, or hardware cloth. I think you may have to open that up for them to get enough breeze, particularly in Florida.

Here is a thread showing the kind of coops that work well in the South:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/163417/please-show-me-your-hot-weather-coops/0_20

I have a large coop which is very breezy with wide openings or hardware cloth for part of the wall on all sides. In air flow, it amounts to a 3 sided coop. The chickens sometimes use it for shade and to cool off in the middle of the day on hot days. They have tall bushes they can get under, but evidently the coop is cooler, at least some days. I run a box fan in there all summer.

 

[JanetS]

Having some air flow is important in the coop. I live in the south too and our coop has 3 windows and a fan to try to keep our chickens cool. We have a thermometer that's read 80 to 85 degrees in the coop at night with the windows and fan during the spring/summer. Hardware cloth works great for windows. The holes are to small for rats, mice, squirrels and snakes to get through.