Chicken Coop Ventilation - Go Out There And Cut More Holes In Your Coop!

This is a great article. I have a question, though;
I built a 12’x8’ shed (8’ tall single pitch roof) for 31 chickens (16 will be butchered 3 months in). So I will have 15 layers…
I have installed a 3.5’x2’ window and a 3.5’x3.5’ window for ventilation in the summer. Can I just drill 2” holes into the top of 2 walls for winter time ventilation? It will be fully insulated…

I'm not sure that my Eglu coop provides sufficient ventilation. It probably just about meets the 1 to 10 rule but there's no control over the ventilation and in summer I'll be leaving the back door propped open at the top.
The run is wire mesh but cladded with corrugated PVC in winter and spring. The narrow gap that between the PVC and the roof is easily one-tenth of the distance to half-way across the run, so that ratio is ok. Last year everything was fine, nice and dry and no draughts.

However, this year, we've had a wet winter, and there's been condensation on the roof each morning, enough to need wiping off so that it doesn't drip.
In addition to the damp weather (high 90s % humidity all the time) the ventilation from the windy end of the run has been slightly reduced this year because I added a makeshift extension in a hurry. (Avian flu cases were increasing rapidly and poultry would need to be brought inside.) The 'windows' in the extension are chicken-level and square, and face the prevailing wind that brings the rain, so they need to be closed against wind and rain; otherwise there are muddy patches inside the run, from the rain blowing in.

These small but very well informed articles are brilliant. I am printing them off to create my chicken folder. Alot l am already aware but a refresher is always welcome. I particularly like the articles on injured or diseases chicken's, this Information is very helpful. Thank you BYC

Thank you that was a wonderful article!!

Very informative, and entertaining also.

Loved reading this. I should probably add a little more ventilation. I would right now, but it’s 10pm and I don’t think the chickens would approve.

Very very VERY helpful.

Love this article

Great article! Always worry about the cold weather with my girls. Have an AFrame coop that was built with recycled materials. Have 2 windows and small window on door. No problems last winter and we had a lot of snow! Started with 3’ in December. Gets little wet if rain but dries quick and I remove wet bedding

Great information ,will be watching carefully this winter as I've added 14 more chicken's.I try to poop scoop daily seems to work well only takes 10 minutes. I also live in Niagara region.

Excellent info. We tarp during winter but have adequate ventilation still. Never any chickens sick and they lay yr around. We also clean the coop (not my husband's liking) daily. Not an intense clean but you can't see poop when we're done. Also use pine shavings and we have no dampness or humidity issues. Our coop is almost always dry except when raining, the bottom area gets wet. Usually take the wet shavings out and let it dry out.

Great article. And to think I was about to cover the man door screen with plexiglass. Reconsidering. It does put draft on one chicken who roosts alone near the door. Can I assume she will move to another roost to avoid a draft? There are plenty of open spots with or without other hens roosting. These areas do not get the draft.

Great article. I have 3 hens in a 8x10 coup to sleep but free range all day. The double doors are open all day and I clean their poop (sand) every morning. There is a little window also And vents on each end that were made in the shed/coop. Since the double doors are open all day, is that enough ventilation? I shut the doors when they roost and I have a small dehumidifier inside. I’m a newbie, thanks.

Does this article refer mainly to coops that the chickens stay in all the time? I have an enclosed run that is partially covered with a tarp for shade. The girls have a small bunkhouse that they sleep in at night. I think it's well ventilated because the roof sits on a 2" piece of wood; it's not sitting directly on the walls. This is my first year with my little flock (6), so I'm still not sure what winter will be like for them. I live in West Texas, where winter is generally a two-week vacation from summer, although we do get the occasional snow storm.

A must read article before you start to build any kind of poultry coop. You think chickens release a lot of water-vapor, ammonia and other noxxic gases? - Get Ducks! - You need even more ventilation…

Fantastic article about ventilation.
Everyone should read.

This is the best article I have ever read on ventilation! I knew ventilation was important, but I didn't know how important it is until I read this!

Great article addressing the need and types of ventilation needed in coops!

So glad I found this very well written article before constructing my chicken coups. Thank you!

Good article on adding ventilation to the coop!