Well Ventilated vs Drafty

[JustOneMore]

I fully understand that a coop should be well ventilated, even in the winter months. I also understand that it shouldn't be drafty. But at what point does well ventilated become drafty?

Last week I found a roll of 1x2 welded wire that had a mouse nest in it. My first thought ... "now, that's well ventilated nest".

As I dragged out the roll, my second thought was ... "but what a drafty mouse house".

I've been plugging seams in the coop but am not sure if I should tightly seal them all or not. Our coop does have a window that is always cracked for ventilation. How do I know if it's putting too much draft on the ladies?

Ever grateful for your thoughts.

 

[johny]

Good question.

After much reading and then tweaking the building of my own coop, I have only one bit of advice.

Ventilation is a draft you can not feel.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

My coop is well ventilated in the summer -- three walls of welded wire. For winter, I covered up one wall and part of two others because not covering around the roost was unacceptable to the chickens.

 

[Rivers]

Its -5º @ 86% humidity right now and its probably going to get colder through the night.

I have a large ventilation window on the small coop. Approx 12" x 16" with just chicken wire in it. This is the only opening so no cross-ventilation. But it is very large.

Im really worried about my young hens freezing to death. Ive been thinking about insulating, really shouldve done it today! Im very concerned about finding poultry popsicles in the morning and ive only had chickens for a few days.

 

[patandchickens]

If there is an actual breeze on the chickens which they cannot escape, it's a problem = drafty.


Pat