How Should I ventilate this coop???

[AmberNate]

Any advice on how to ventilate and where the roost bar should go?? Bought this coop used, and there was zero ventilation. For whatever reason the person who built it raised the nesting boxes. I know ideally the roosting bar should be above the nesting boxes but if I do that then my ladies will be in the cross wind of the vents Thoughts? Suggestions? See photos of coop for reference.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Don't know if it's possible to set the roosts "high" at all due to the fact that you have no vertical space to work with - looks maybe 28, 30" tall? I'd consider stripping out the nests entirely (which means you need to find some other place to put them, like under the coop) and then having the roosts about at the height of where the nest floor currently is. Louvered vents in the tall part of the triangle under the roof maybe?

Can we get a further back shot or two of the outside of the coop?

 

[3KillerBs]

I agree, more pictures of the whole thing from different angles would allow us to see your possible options better.

It's extremely difficult to get the nestboxes above the level of the bedding, the roosts above the nestboxes, and the ventilation above the birds' heads when they're on the roost in a coop less than 4 feet tall.

 

[AmberNate]

I agree, more pictures of the whole thing from different angles would allow us to see your possible options better.

It's extremely difficult to get the nestboxes above the level of the bedding, the roosts above the nestboxes, and the ventilation above the birds' heads when they're on the roost in a coop less than 4 feet tall.

Here are some more photos. I'd rather not remove the nesting boxes. I just don't have the time at the moment to reconstruct. Hoping they won't be too bothered if I put the roost bar below the nesting boxes. Thinking of maybe adding a vent right into the part of the roof that's within the run?

 

[AmberNate]

Don't know if it's possible to set the roosts "high" at all due to the fact that you have no vertical space to work with - looks maybe 28, 30" tall? I'd consider stripping out the nests entirely (which means you need to find some other place to put them, like under the coop) and then having the roosts about at the height of where the nest floor currently is. Louvered vents in the tall part of the triangle under the roof maybe?

Can we get a further back shot or two of the outside of the coop?

Here are some more photos. I'd rather not remove the nesting boxes. I just don't have the time at the moment to reconstruct. Hoping they won't be too bothered if I put the roost bar below the nesting boxes. Thinking of maybe adding a vent right into the part of the roof that's within the run?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I wouldn't put it IN the roof, but in the wall under that roof, as that should provide some climate protection.

BTW is that tiny side hatch your child's looking through the clean out door? I hope not... yikes at trying to do maintenance through a hole the size of your head.

Also I hope youe don't take this as nitpicking - I know you didn't build this coop, but it's just not a good design overall.

I'd rather not remove the nesting boxes. I just don't have the time at the moment to reconstruct. Hoping they won't be too bothered if I put the roost bar below the nesting boxes.

The chickens won't be bothered at all, but you might be if they prefer sleeping in the nests instead, which means you'll need to clean out nest boxes daily.

 

[21hens-incharge]

If this were mine......

I would extend the coop section all the way to where the run door is. I would put a BIG clean out door in the new wall inside the run. I would then have room to have the roost to be slightly higher than the nest box and room for venting up high above the new clean out door.


I understand that would take time, effort, basic building skills and yes $$.

As it is it will be hard to make it effective as you already know.

To redo the nest boxes would be perhaps easier as the framing is mostly there already. It would mean closing in the area below where they are now and dropping them to the new enclosed lower section. It would take less time and less materials and won't solve the height issues the coop has.

I think that coop has a lot of potential so it's worth doing something with it.