Large cupola question

[MoonflowerMama]

How much ventilation would a 4' by 8' cupola add? 32 sq. ft. or would it be more?

 

[3KillerBs]

How much actual open space is there?

The monitor on my little coop has 6" of open height and is 4 feet long so it adds 4 square feet of ventilation, 2 feet per side.

Thread here.

 

[MoonflowerMama]

Ah, monitor roof.... maybe that is what I'm trying to get at?

I have a 12' by 14' walk in A-frame shed. I'm so worried about ventilation that I was thinking possibly about adding something just like your monitor roof.

 

[3KillerBs]

I highly recommend the design for any hot climate.

When the coop is in shade I can open the access door, put my head and shoulders into it, and find it no hotter than it is outside. With the addition of the little window and the pop door open it's barely warmer even in full sun.

With sufficient roof overhang it's dry as a bone too. I didn't have chickens in it during Hurricane Florence, but I did check the coop afterward and found no water intrusion.

 

[MoonflowerMama]

Here is our current shed with nothing done to it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-with-new-coop-please.1369712/

Still trying to figure out ventilation. Initially I thought the roof was ruined and was just going to replace it with corrugated metal. I was going to expand the outside perimeter and open it up some. Though today iremoved the moss on top and the shingles are in good shape. So now I'm thinking about possibly adding a cross between a cupola and a monitor roof.

 

[3KillerBs]

You've got great bones to work with on that shed! I wish I had one that nice on this property.

Remember that generous roof overhangs are desirable, especially too keep rain from blowing into the monitor. You wouldn't need to worry much about snow load in your area, right? Just summer heat and wind-driven rain?

 

[MoonflowerMama]

Rarely do we have a bad snow. A few years back we had snow (in drifts 12-19" deep), but I haven't seen that in quite some time.

Yeah, I'm back to the planning stage even more now.

 

[3KillerBs]

Rarely do we have a bad snow. A few years back we had snow (in drifts 12-19" deep), but I haven't seen that in quite some time.

Yeah, I'm back to the planning stage even more now.

I think we're in a pretty similar climate. I'm right at the 7b/8a hardiness zone border. A lot more heat than cold.

 

[aart]

Opening up the soffits would be easier than adding a cupola or monitor.
The monitor especially is major construction.

 

[MoonflowerMama]

Yes, a ridge vent would also be much easier. I'm just very concerned about ventilation. I currently have 14 chickens, but in the future if I get more I want to have enough ventilation for all of them. I have a 12' x 14' shed and hypothetically could have 30 chickens in there comfortably (I think).

I don't know if adding a ridge vent and opening up the soffits will provide enough ventilation in the winter. In the summer I plan on having windows open for additional ventilation. Any idea how much ventilation a ridge vent and removal of the soffits will add?