Exhaust fans and ceiling fans - friend or foe?

[kayla_sayswa]

I have a 12x20 gambrel roof "yard barn" with a wood floor that was set up for rabbits. The set up included steel entry door with a window, flourescent lights, radiant heater, lots of plug-ins, full insulation, melamine walls for ease of washing, linoleum floor (needs replacing due to tears), ceiling fan, two intake vents towards the bottom of the walls one each end, and a shutter exhaust fan set on a cycle timer (I can let it run for 2 minutes on, 5 minutes off or however I choose). This made for an excellent system for the rabbits.

I no longer have rabbits and the hubby gave me a green light to convert the barn to a chicken coop after too many predators getting to our chickens in our current set up.

I want to know if the ceiling fans and exhaust fans are a good idea? The ceiling fan is just a cheapo from Menards. The fan is positioned above the loft area so no worries about a chicken flying up into it. I'd only run this on super hot muggy days.

The exhaust fan is 16" and is a closed motor design used in agriculture (ie high dust) environments. It is not your average attic exhaust fan. Here's the link where I bought it: http://klubertanz.com/images/Klubertanz_Pg37.pdf. It is equipped with an on/off switch, a variable speed control, and a cycle timer. (uh..yeah..it was spendy!) I let it run for just a minute, then off for 10 minutes in the winter. When the temps get really cold, I shut it off completely unless the barn needs a quick fresh air boost.

Should I use them? Will they help or harm? I don't want to find out the "hard way". I can just keep them turned off. I can't see any reasons not to use them but thought i'd ask the experts here. I'm located in Wisconsin and my property has no shade whatsoever.

I'll be converting my existing 4x8 coop into a duck house or maybe a banty pen. My hubby is so understanding....

Thanks...

Here's my rabbit turned chicken coop shed

And heres' the old coop, I thought about selling it, but nah...I'll keep it!

 

[Lesa]

I love my exhaust fan... It takes a very few minutes to change the air in the coop. Perfect on cold winter days. I use it a lot when it gets hot. It does suck up a lot of dust, so you need to clean it. Your coop looks great!

 

[CutnAndStrutn]

im not sure about the ceiling fan because if you use like wood chips or bedding (unless its heavy) it might get blown all over the place plus down feathers and reg feathers too. the only way i would use either fan would be on thier lowest speed setting. once i get my new/improved coop built im going to install 2 bathroom style vent fans amd the round attic vents. you really just need something to keep some air moving but not to much that its blows everything in the air. imho the vent fan would be enough.

 

[patandchickens]

In general:

Ceiling fan:

--- marginally-ok-in-some-circumstances in summertime, if it is SOOOOO hot the chickens would benefit from a breeze. I say "marginally ok" because it you are not going to find a coop-safe (designed for high dust environment) one that is also sized for the typical small backyard coop; and because no matter how you slice it they occasionally catch fire. Also, if you use a ceiling fan, expect the chickens to have giant hysterics the first few times (my chicken bldg has ceiling fans from having being originally built, not by me, as a breeding/boarding kennel; every now and then I hit the wrong switch and they activate, and whoooo boy! let me tell you, you learn what the 'predator above!' alarm call is like. I call them my giant rotary eagles LOL)

--- not appropriate for wintertime. Way too drafty, and does not really engage in air exchange anyhow.

Exhaust fan:

--- most of what people use, the bathroom type, are not safe/effective for use in coop because they are not even remotely designed for life in a semi-outdoor high-temperature-swing high-dust environment. They can catch fire; also more commonly they quit working after a season.

--- you get to choose between installing the fan blowing out, making somewhat less draft in the coop but maximizing the amount of dust and other gunk that run through it; or installing it blowing in, minimizing exposure to dust/gunk but maximizing draft in the coop. The latter may be ok in hot summers but is not ok in cold winters.

--- fans are basically pointless in most situations IMHO, because properly designed passive ventilation achieves the same thing only better (no drafts), for cheaper, safer, and not affected by power going out. (They are essential in huge commercial chicken barns because the buildings are so large and are heated and have MAJOR air quality challenges. It is totally different for a backyard coop tho; backyard coops are small enough that passive ventilation works quite well if designed right)

Exception: if you live somewhere with extremely hot summers that test a chickens' capacity to endure heat, it can sometimes be useful to rig a fan blowing on them (that they can choose whether to be in or not) during the hot part of the day. This is not a substitute for having a coop sufficiently well ventilated and sufficiently well shaded that it is no hotter than ambient air; the point is that when that's not enough, a fan can sometimes help. People typically just use a regular household oscillating or box fan, set up somewhere it can't be rained on or knocked over, to blow on part of the coop or run.

Regarding the o.p.'s specific situation which is pretty significantly different than 99% of other BYCers (for one thing, applause for actually getting the RIGHT kind of exhaust fan for your rabbit barn!).... you can experiment with them since they are already installed. The building looks to be not heavily invested in passive ventilation, you may need a bit of *something* else, and at least your fan setup is intelligently done. All you really need to keep in mind is that while summertime breezes are fine/good, wintertime breezes are bad (indoors), just use common sense

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[kayla_sayswa]

I was hoping patandchickens would chime in...yay!!

First, thank you for noticing the type of exhaust fan and not lumping it with other types of fans.

Second, the amount of passive ventilation in my barn exists of two 18" square openings on the west and east side of the building towards the bottom. I do agree it's a bit lacking. I want - and still hope to get - a nice window next to the door if my hubby will let me cut through the wall. I do know I'll get some pushback if I do anymore cutting in that barn.

Good advice on the ceiling fan. It will be positioned out of view completely because it's in the "loft" area of the barn (this barn is very tall) so no scary eagle images for the girls. Regardless, I'm inclined to just take it down right now anyway.

thanks again

 

[WoodlandWoman]

If you can't add more passive ventilation, then you really need to use the exhaust fan. I don't see that you'll have any other choice. You just don't have enough ventilation otherwise. Two 18" openings on a building that size just won't be enough on their own.

You may just have to experiment to see what works the best for you. After a year, you should have a better idea of how much you need to run the fan in particular types of weather. In the winter you shouldn't need it as much as in the summer. You could also enclose the roosting area with a top and sides, to eliminate drafts in the winter time. You could also do that in a small section of the living area, too, just to give them a cozier daytime area in the winter.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
That's it in a nutshell!


Pat

 

[kayla_sayswa]

Here's some good news. The back side of the barn consists of a huge metal rollup door. For the rabbits, I've just kept it closed and added 3" thick insulation to seal things up. Hubby said I cannot remove the door, but he'll gladly roll it up and build me a wall in the opening. Voila! Now I can add a couple of very large windows in that new "wall".

I'm also going to feed him lots of lasagna and banana cream pie one night and mention how I'd love to have a window in the front of the barn, too. Pretty pretty please!!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
That's perfect!

Pat

 

[WoodlandWoman]

That's great!