What should I put in the eves?

[Lulu-vt]

I’ve left my eves open for ventilation but it’s too much in winter. Last year I stuffed it with hay which worked in a pinch but was very messy when I took it apart in the spring. I’d love to do something different this year.

Do you have any recommendations?

I live in Vermont. It’s very chilly here for a long time. I have a roof vent besides all these eves. Last year I blocked all but one section on each side. It’s also open on the gable ends.

Adding just in case some mentions…everything is secure with hardware cloth covering all openings.

 

[jbj25]

I don't think I would close them up.

But, if you are hard set on doing it, you might could come up with some foam of some sort that is over sized just enough to jam in there and would be easy to pull back out without a mess.

Something similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/GoTo-Foam-Height-Upholstery-Cushion/dp/B07THQM9QY/ref=ast_sto_dp_puis

 

[Sally PB]

How about some air filter material? It cuts down on the wind, but there is still air/gas exchange, which lets ammonia escape.

Adding just in case some mentions…everything is secure with hardware cloth covering all openings.

 

[MROO]

Cut a tarp to size and put it up on the outside. It'll block the wind, which is the real problem for chickens, but still allow a little bit of air flow. If you finish the edges (just melt them - no sewing required) they can be taken down and used again next winter.

Back when I had rabbits, I needed to cover a similar opening in my open shed to keep the wind from circling behind and "whirlwinding" my poor bunnies. My first tarp only lasted two winters before fraying beyond reuse. For the replacement, I cut the tarp so the grommeted edge just reached the outside board. I melt-sealed the raw edge and tacked it to the back of the shed, just above the cages. Then I nailed a 1x2 all the way across the top of the raw edge to keep it in place. I used screws with washers to hold the grommeted end to the outer eave. It not only worked like a charm, but I could unscrew the outer edge and put them right back in place so I wouldn't lose them. When the weather lightened up, I just rolled the tarp up and tied it to the back of the shed with eye hooks and baling twine. It was still there when we sold the place, years later.

 

[K0k0shka]

Why do you think it's too much? Is snow/rain getting inside the coop? If moisture isn't getting inside, then it's not too much. There's no such thing as too much ventilation if moisture isn't getting in and there's no wind blowing directly on the chickens. You aren't going for temperature here, you're just providing shelter. It's okay if the temperature inside evens out with the temperature outside. It's not temperature that bothers the chickens per se, it's if they get wet or wind blows on them enough to open their feathers and let out the insulating bubble of warm air trapped in the fluff. Your roof overhangs look nice and generous, so if they protect the eaves from snow blowing in, I'd leave the eaves open. I left the tops of my coop walls open all the way around for a 6"-tall wraparound vent on all sides, protected by the roof overhang and additional awnings I made to stop snow from blowing in. Those vents stay open all winter, in MA where it gets cold, too. No problems at all.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I agree with @K0k0shka that as long as there's no breeze to ruffle feathers there's no such thing as "too much" ventilation, especially in the winter.

We use a Woods style open air coop and have never had a problem. This design has historically been used up into Maine so it would be appropriate for your area. I've never had a problem with frostbite (although this year I have the largest single combs I've ever kept so we'll see) and many others who use this style have had great success with it.