Vents?

[getaclue]

Get a big dog crate. Use something to fix the door, so it stays propped open, just enough for them to get in, and out. Cover the dog crate, except the door opening. Take a piece of 2 x 4, and cut two blocks from it. Cut the rest of it slightly smaller than the width at the back of the crate. Screw the longer piece into the blocks, so it's slightly elevated. This will serve as a roost. Put it about 3/4 of the way back into the crate. Put hay in the bottom of the crate. It should keep them cozy, warm, and provide enough air circulation. Put a decent layer of Vaseline on their combs, and wattles.

 

[Maxx_a_mouse]

Get a big dog crate. Use something to fix the door, so it stays propped open, just enough for them to get in, and out. Cover the dog crate, except the door opening. Take a piece of 2 x 4, and cut two blocks from it. Cut the rest of it slightly smaller than the width at the back of the crate. Screw the longer piece into the blocks, so it's slightly elevated. This will serve as a roost. Put it about 3/4 of the way back into the crate. Put hay in the bottom of the crate. It should keep them cozy, warm, and provide enough air circulation. Put a decent layer of Vaseline on their combs, and wattles.

I’m not sure exactly what you mean. Open the dog crate without any pen? If so, I can’t do that. There are many hawks and stray cats that are around my property and they would be a snack in two seconds. They are in a dog crate now, until their coop is done. So with what you said, would 2 small holes be good for vents as there is also a door to a run that would be open? The coop is about the same size, if not bigger then the dog crate they are in now (not including the run of course). Also, Vaseline? I’ve heard of doing that before, but wouldn’t that just make it worse? I’m not very educated when it comes to putting Vaseline on their combs, I’ve only heard it mentioned but never really looked in to it

 

[Maxx_a_mouse]

Should’ve probably posted my coop, so here’s a picture unfinished. The roof still has to go on, and the netting for the run part also has to be put on. Coop is 48”x30”x36” and the run is 3’3”x4’x30”

 

[getaclue]

Nevermind. I thought it was a bigger coop, thus the suggestion to put the crate inside. Sorry I misunderstood.

 

[Maxx_a_mouse]

Nevermind. I thought it was a bigger coop, thus the suggestion to put the crate inside. Sorry I misunderstood.

no it’s alright! I posted the dimensions in the original post, but everyone seems to think it’s bigger, so I guess I should’ve posted a picture in the first post.

would putting a box of hay in the coop be essentially the same thing as the dog crate? The two chickens are less then 3 pounds combined, and they are very tiny (maybe 6 inches tall at MOST), so they would both fit in a small box or milk crate with some room to spare

 

[getaclue]

If you are going to use it year round, you might want to consider doing the entire outside in 1/4 in. wire mesh. You can cut, and screw in the plywood to cover it for winter, then unscrew them, and remove them for the summer, or use fasteners to better accomplish this. This affords you the ability to cut the plywood shorter at the top of one end, so they have ventilation in the winter, without losing all the body heat. An A/C vent would work too.

 

[Alaskan]

I would make one of the run walls that joins to the coop solid, make the area above the pop door a great big wire covered vent, and figure out a way to roof the entire thing....

I know you said you didn't want to roof the run, but it would protect the vent over the pop door and give them more space...otherwise they might not come out.... if the run gets snowed in.

Also... those feathered feet would do better in a dry protected from snow and rain run.

 

[aart]

Should’ve probably posted my coop, so here’s a picture unfinished. The roof still has to go on, and the netting for the run part also has to be put on. Coop is 48”x30”x36” and the run is 3’3”x4’x30”
View attachment 1954909

I am building a coop for my chickens and it is 48”x30”x36”. Only problem I’m worried about is ventilation. It can get -20°F here and I don’t want it to get too cold in the coop.

It's a delicate balance between cold and humidity in the coop. Good ventilation can reduce humidity, but it's very hard to do in such a small space without allowing too strong of a draft.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
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[ChickenCanoe]

Right...so all winter long, not just on January 10 by 6 AM.

Of course. It was just a random date and time I pulled out of my a++ that was likely to be quite cold anywhere it the northern hemisphere and would likely to be cold in the coop whether with or without ventilation.
I use a similar approach in my classes to encourage people to build their coops where they have plenty of shade. People tend to fear cold rather than summer. when their fears should lie in the complete opposite direction.
They want to put their coops in the sun for winter warmth. I explain that a building situated in full sun will be of no benefit at 4AM on a January morning but could be deadly at 4PM in July or August.

I would make one of the run walls that joins to the coop solid, make the area above the pop door a great big wire covered vent, and figure out a way to roof the entire thing....

I know you said you didn't want to roof the run, but it would protect the vent over the pop door and give them more space...otherwise they might not come out.... if the run gets snowed in.

Also... those feathered feet would do better in a dry protected from snow and rain run.

X2
There is nothing better than a dry roofed run. One must think about their run without a roof after days of relentless rain.

 

[Maxx_a_mouse]

Of course. It was just a random date and time I pulled out of my a++ that was likely to be quite cold anywhere it the northern hemisphere and would likely to be cold in the coop whether with or without ventilation.
I use a similar approach in my classes to encourage people to build their coops where they have plenty of shade. People tend to fear cold rather than summer. when their fears should lie in the complete opposite direction.
They want to put their coops in the sun for winter warmth. I explain that a building situated in full sun will be of no benefit at 4AM on a January morning but could be deadly at 4PM in July or August.



X2
There is nothing better than a dry roofed run. One must think about their run without a roof after days of relentless rain.

I’m not so much worried about summer heat because I can easily move the coop to a shaded area if needed (the coop and run are on wheels). I’m thinking about roofing the run, but I have never done so before with any other chickens and they all did fine. If it rains like crazy (which is rarely), they will most likely be moved into the garage or under the covered porch where they will not get hit hard. I also usually move most snow out of the run when it snows hard (sometimes feet at a time). I’m just worried about the frostbite, since one is a show chicken. I put 2 3” vents in so far, opposite to their roosts so they won’t get hit with any wind. I am however debating on putting 2 more 3” vents, but I’m not sure they are necessary?

the hottest it usually gets in the summer is 85, sometimes 90, and in a heat wave we will get the occasional 100+, but not usually (1-2 days out of the year)