Winterizing/ventilating chicken coop

[Cklass90]

I have a large shed I use as a chicken coop. It is plenty big enough for my 18 chickens, I could easily have 8 or so more without thinking about crowding. It has a big window and the top panes of this window are currently just mesh. I was planning on blocking these up for the winter to keep the warmth in but hen I realised the shed doesn't have a vent at the top. There is a small chicken door which is usually open all the time but I do plan on closing it at night through the winter. But it's rightg on the floor level and being a shed the chickens are up in the rafters. So my question is...block up the mesh window or leave it for ventilation? Close the chicken door at night or leave it open to circulate? The reason I mention about the coop being plenty big enough is they're not crammed together producing a large amount of heat in a small place.

 

[Folly's place]

You still need air movement in there, so having openings is still very important.
I hope that by 'mesh' that you mean that it's covered in hardware cloth, not window screening.
Pictures! And what's your climate? Do you have about one sq. ft. of ventilation per bird?
Mary

 

[Hoytman]

Here's a link to our new coop...it may help give you some ideas when thinking about ventilation.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ersion-to-a-semii-permanent-coop-run.1278741/

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Hi, I just did a blog post on winterizing my chicken coops for winter. I will post the like here, you might find it helpful.

https://thekuntryklucker.blog/2018/11/04/ready-for-ol-man-winter/