Wall vents with no overhang

[Eilsel]

Hello all!

I have a 4' x 8' shed that I plan on converting to my chicken coop (4-6 chickens is my plan, I know- I've been warned about chicken math but I have pretty good self-control). The roof slants one way, it is approximately 7' tall on one long side and 6' tall on the other side. I want to add vents all along the top of the high wall, but the shed was built with no overhang (not ideal), so I can't just cut out the siding and cover it with HW cloth because rain and snow would definitely blow in. Would it work to cover the vents with soffit vent covers? I know they won't allow as much air exchange as an open area but I think they will help keep the weather out of the coop. I am thinking the 8" x 16" like these: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Master-...-Eave-Soffit-Vent-in-White-EAC16X8W/100023618
I should be able to fit 4 (maybe 6, I can't remember how the studs are set) on the long side.This won't be my only ventilation as I also plan to add some windows that will be able to stay open in the warmer months.

Any other recommendations (very budget-conscious and limited carpentry skills) would be welcome!

 

[Welshies]

Chicken math=self control goes out the window. Keep that in mind!
What are your winters like?
If they are very cold (-4 F or below regularly) putting the vent along the highest wall will be the biggest mistake you can make. All the precious body heat will go out. I made this mistake with my vents, and they were what I call open-air vents (hardware cloth). I now have to stuff them with hay in order to conserve body heat but allow air exchange.
If you are set on putting those vents as high as possible, I would look into eave vents or furnace filters as ventilation. High vents need insulative properties in weather that gets below freezing.
I would suggest making vents on 3 sides of your coop, each with a closable and openable mechanism. That way, you can adjust accordingly based on flock size, wind direction, humidity, and temperature. In summer, a nice breeze flowing through the coop during the day is a great thing.
So, to answer your questions- I would place vents on the high side of the roof, the low side, and place one or two windows (towards the winter sun) that can be opened in summertime.

 

[Eilsel]

Chicken math=self control goes out the window. Keep that in mind!
What are your winters like?
If they are very cold (-4 F or below regularly) putting the vent along the highest wall will be the biggest mistake you can make. All the precious body heat will go out. I made this mistake with my vents, and they were what I call open-air vents (hardware cloth). I now have to stuff them with hay in order to conserve body heat but allow air exchange.
If you are set on putting those vents as high as possible, I would look into eave vents or furnace filters as ventilation. High vents need insulative properties in weather that gets below freezing.
I would suggest making vents on 3 sides of your coop, each with a closable and openable mechanism. That way, you can adjust accordingly based on flock size, wind direction, humidity, and temperature. In summer, a nice breeze flowing through the coop during the day is a great thing.
So, to answer your questions- I would place vents on the high side of the roof, the low side, and place one or two windows (towards the winter sun) that can be opened in summertime.

Thanks for the input. I'm in NE Kansas, so Dec-Feb we will regularly be below freezing with the occasional few days below 0F, and some ice/snow. The summer would be the same situation in reverse, Jun-Aug sees regular high temps above 90F with occasional highs above 100F. Being in the plains, sometimes it is extremely windy, though my property has a lot of trees and the coop will be on the south side of the house so that will help break the north winds. Humidity tends to be more of an issue in the summer than the winter.

 

[Welshies]

Thanks for the input. I'm in NE Kansas, so Dec-Feb we will regularly be below freezing with the occasional few days below 0F, and some ice/snow. The summer would be the same situation in reverse, Jun-Aug sees regular high temps above 90F with occasional highs above 100F. Being in the plains, sometimes it is extremely windy, though my property has a lot of trees and the coop will be on the south side of the house so that will help break the north winds. Humidity tends to be more of an issue in the summer than the winter.

I would definitely make all your vents and windows openable and closeable. Consider a dutch door as well. In summer, opening everything will keep the coop cool for nighttime. In winter, being able to close what you want allows reduced windflow, reduced humidity, and body heat conservation.

 

[aart]

I've been warned about chicken math but I have pretty good self-control

Good for you...it can be done!!

Can you post a pic of this shed?
You might be able to cut a top hinged 'door' high on the wall for your vent that when propped open will protect from rain.
Don't think that louvered vent cover will cut it in your hot summers.

 

[Eilsel]

Good for you...it can be done!!

Can you post a pic of this shed?
You might be able to cut a top hinged 'door' high on the wall for your vent that when propped open will protect from rain.
Don't think that louvered vent cover will cut it in your hot summers.

Thank you for the vote of confidence!

This is its current situation... going to replace the 4x4s on the bottom this weekend and add hardware cloth to prevent rodents from moving in underneath before standing it up and putting it in place. Plenty of work to be done... bought it from a guy who used it as a dog kennel + storage for half the price of what the lumber would cost me, and it’s exactly the size I wanted to build and built stronger than I probably would have built it.

 

[lazy gardener]

Why not add a new roof, complete with the overhang you are looking for? I would add overhang on all 4 sides. I am a fan of having ventilation up high, and if I had that shed coop, I'd put soffit or louvered vents on both the high and low sides of that roof. My weather is colder than yours, and I have 3 windows, 8' x 2" soffit on each side, 2 gable louvered, and a floor level louvered vent.

 

[aart]

Agrees...add a roof with overhangs.
So 4x8.... by how tall??
Is there a people door?

 

[Eilsel]

I was hoping not to have to do that because the current roof is in good shape... luckily not getting chicks until March so I have lots of time for the project if that’s what needs to be done. I think it’s about 7’ tall on the taller side, and about 6’ tall on the shorter side.

ETA: there is a people door on the shorter long side- directly across from those dog holes. Inconvenient if it’s raining, I’m thinking of putting a little gutter type thing on it to divert the runoff.

 

[Welshies]

I was hoping not to have to do that because the current roof is in good shape... luckily not getting chicks until March so I have lots of time for the project if that’s what needs to be done. I think it’s about 7’ tall on the taller side, and about 6’ tall on the shorter side.

It doesn't NEED to be done. But it CAN be done.