Well ventilated vs. Drafty?

[Crackers63]

HI
I am new at this and have been reading alot. Maybe I am being dense or something, but I cannot understand how my coop can be
well ventilated while not being "drafty". Literature says that it needs to be ventilated...........I live in a northern climate (Adk. Mountains, near Lake Placid, Ny and the Canadian border) so it gets cold here. I understand that a draft (wind blowing directly on the chicken) is not good as the chix will lose heat...........so how can I do both? My coop has an area at the top of the ceiling over the door, under the eaves that is screen. Will this be okay as it isn't directly near where the girls roost and the wind won;t be blowing on them ?........... Sorry, I am having trouble envisioning how to do this the right way. Many thanks!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Our barn is patterned after a rather famous or historic chicken barn called the Monitor or Semi-Monitor. I hope it gives you ideas about ventilation. Venting is moist, warmer, gaseous air being exhausted. Hope it helps.

 

[Judy]

This was confusing to me, too. Ventilation needs to be at a high point in the coop. The humidity and ammonia will escape, and exchange with fresh air at the same vent. There shouldn't be a draft on the birds because of the vent -- unless the coop is very small.

Here are a couple of articles about this. They are very good articles, pretty classic here, written by a Canadian.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/winter-coop-temperatures

 

[JackE]

Unless you have a coop like the one pictured below. Winter ventilation is supplied through the open front. In the warmer months, the side and top windows are opened up. No drafts, more than enough ventilation/fresh air.
Jack

 

[kellieetal]

AH! that is my favorite chicken coop ever! I want it!

 

[haemony]

Jack! I am fascinated by your chicken coop. What a great looking house. Do you have more pictures, a floor plan or inside photos anywhere that I could check out. Thinking of building one similar to this.

 

[mickey328]

Welcome Crackers! It took me quite a while to figure it out too. I mean...you want wind sort of blowing through, but no drafts?? I finally figured out that the"draft" thing referred to the wind blowing ON the chickens. So, what you want is ventilation up near the top of the coop, where it blows over the chickens when they're at their highest point...usually roosting. That way, it clears out the moisture and fumes but doesn't chill the chickens.

 

[JackE]

Jack! I am fascinated by your chicken coop. What a great looking house. Do you have more pictures, a floor plan or inside photos anywhere that I could check out. Thinking of building one similar to this.

Thanks, Here's a old link that shows it off a bit. Interior shots on pg4.
Jack

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/445004/woods-style-house-in-the-winter

 

[haemony]

Thanks, Here's a old link that shows it off a bit. Interior shots on pg4.
Jack

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/445004/woods-style-house-in-the-winter

Thanks so much. That was very helpful and enjoyable to read. I have a new batch of young pullets and their cockerel sleeping on the rafters of the run. They refuse to sleep in the current hen house at night. We are going to build them a new coop following your example. They have made it clear that they prefer fresh air.

 

[vickichicki]

My solution to ventilated vs. drafty.

On the sides of my coop (which are slanted) the angluar part at the top is going to be filled with hardware cloth. I am then going to put stand offs and place a second piece of wood which will cover the hardware cloth. I was thinking around a 3" gap would work. This way there is fresh air going in but a wind block for direct stream.

For thos not quite picturing it... Imagine a table with its legs cut off to 3" and attached to the side.