Windows and vents?

[KenCoesta]

I'm drawing up plans for new coop, so which way should the windows go?
North/South? East/West? Wind usually blows from the West.
Or am I over thinking this? ^__^;

Vents high and low, right?
Thanks!

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Here is a great page on ventilation from patandchickens, a member here at BYC. She knows what she is talking about. Lots of info...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-VENTILATION

 

[patandchickens]

I don't personally much like low vents for a backyard-size coop. When it's windy, they kick your coop bedding all up and around; you can't use them in wintertime; and they provide a lot less ventilation than if you had a large portion of one whole wall be just-mesh vent. (Closeable for wintertime if necessary). Make it on the side(s) that thunderstorms don't usually come from, if the coop is exposed to strong storms in the summer and you don't have anything else to keep the rain out. If the coop is small enough that you plan to close the open wall(s) up during winter, then yes you still want high-up vents for wintertime use.

If you have a large portion of one or two whole walls be just open, with mesh over it to keep predators out, then honestly IMO it does not matter too much what side(s) your windows are on.

JMHO, good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[KenCoesta]

Ok, cool. Thanks.
Awesome article.

I guess, thing is I don't "KNOW" how cold is too cold and how hot is too hot.
How drafty is too drafty...
I'm pretty good with animals it's practically a zoo over here already!
I can just look at how my hermit crabs are acting and tell whether I need to spritz some water in there to up the humidity or to crack the lid.
But, I didn't spend weeks building the aquarium either, so I want to get it all right before I start swinging a hammer.

Thanks so much everyone!

 

[patandchickens]

Well to some extent you will just have to "learn by doing"

But, in general:

Chickens don't do well with temps above 90-95 F (especially if high humidity). I am tlaking about the temperature the chicken is actually experiencing in the location it is sitting, which may be different than what the official generalized-outdoor-air temperature is.

Most healthy adult chickens are fine down to freezing no matter *what* the humidity, if they are protected from direct drafts/breezes at those lower temperatures; many (like, cold-hardy breeds) are fine down towards 0 F or even lower, if the air is dry, but if the air is very humid (b/c of climate or b/c of poor ventilation in coop) you can potentially start getting frostbite not much below freezing.

See 'cold coop' page (link in my .sig below) for more on the subject.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[CityChook]

Ken, in my coop, I put the windows on the eastern (sunrise) and southern sides (it gets most of the wintertime sun). My weather also comes from the west, so I did not put windows or vents on that side. One thing I am very glad I did was make ample soffits and installed the big southern window quite high. When it rains I don't have to worry about running out there to close up the coop as the water misses the window completely.

One thing I wish I had done is put a window on the run side of the coop. My run is covered and if there was a window there, it would have been completely protected from the rain, let in just a little more light and provided some wonderful cross ventilation in the summertime. Oh well.

I'd keep the vents up high, as high as possible, to let the warm, moist air escape. You'll get enough incoming air coming in from the pop door. My vents are in the ridgecap/soffit and on the eastern side (because it gets the least weather).

hope this helps - cc

 

[KenCoesta]

Excellent, great advice!
Here's what I'm thinking window and vet wise...


NORTH-SIDE:
Fenced-in with removable wall (possibly completely opening wall for maintenance).

SOUTH-SIDE (run-side & mostly sunny-side):
Window & door out to run.

EAST-SIDE (leeward side):
Window, vents on top, nesting boxes.

WEST-SIDE (windward side):
Nothing.


Whaddaya think?
Pretty solid?

 

[patandchickens]

Sounds to me like a good plan

With the all-open north side, you may have to jigger around a little bit with it to figure out what gives you maximum summer coolth while not letting the coop get excessively soaked or blown around during storms - I know storms usually come out of the W or SW but there can be pretty good gusts from the N sometimes so you may have to wait and see, in terms of fine-tuning the details of the setup.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[MotherJean]

Thank you, Pat, for that "cold coop" page. Been watching this thread with interest because I, too, am under construction. The info you provided was most helpful.

 

[KenCoesta]

Yes indeed - thanks!