One easy way to add draft free ventilation

[PirateGirl]

I have been meaning to post this for some time. Many people struggle with how to add ventilation to their coops without creating a draft on their chickens. I admit, this was not my idea, it came from my husband, who at one time was a roofer, and helped build my coop. I wanted to share because I feel it is a way you can add ventilation to any coop. I made this diagram to help explain. Position will vary depending on your coop design, just be sure the opening is pointed down so that you don't end up with precipitation coming in. The vent can be placed on a roof or a wall, ideally it would be higher than your roost.

First decide where you want to position your vent.
Then cut a hole about 6 inches wide that runs almost the length of your coop wall or roof.
Cut 2"x4"s to line 3 side of your hole. Attach these on the OUTSIDE of your coop.
Cut a piece of plywood (or if you are clever about it, you can probably re-use the piece you cut out of your coop wall/roof) just large enough to cover the opening and attach it. It will be raised up a few inches by the 2"x4"s leaving only one side open, in my diagram it's the right side.
Cover this final opening with hardware cloth to keep predators/pests from making their way in.

Now you've got a draft free vent. Wind will be diffused by having to make it around a corner to get in your coop.

*EDIT*
Please share any ventilation pics and ideas you have here. They will certainly be useful to others. Every coop is different, there is not a one size fits all solution!

 

[snow5164]

Do you have a picture of this on your coop?

I used real sliding windows on all sides of my coops, anyone that has sliders knows there always “ ventilation “ with them

 

[PirateGirl]

Do you have a picture of this on your coop?

I used real sliding windows on all sides of my coops, anyone that has sliders knows there always “ ventilation “ with them

I can take a photo when I get home... I might have one archived on here.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

would love to see examples of this! looks like a sound solution, but not sure how to implement it since I have multiple windows on all sides of my coop...do I just add a 2x4 around the window?

 

[PirateGirl]

would love to see examples of this! looks like a sound solution, but not sure how to implement it since I have multiple windows on all sides of my coop...do I just add a 2x4 around the window?

Do you feel you need more ventilation with windows on all sides?
My vent is actually in the roof and I have shingles over it. I must get pics later.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Would love to see pics! I'm looking into building a new coop.

 

[Cryss]

Kinda similar to how I made my vent. I've been calling it a baffle vent. Remember to cover the hole with hardware cloth before attaching any wood parts! I didn't have to cut any holes amd cover with hardware cloth. This was part of the original run that was covered in hardware cloth. I used plexiglass rather than wood so this could double as a window for a light source. I didn't need to use 2x4s because I just used the roof edge for that part. BUT the concept is the same. Yeah, I have to fix the corner bits to be bigger. I just did this yesterday, not finished. (You can see a video of it being installed in my thread on here called " Altering my terrible TS coop")

 

[PirateGirl]

Kinda similar to how I made my vent. I've been calling it a baffle vent. Remember to cover the hole with hardware cloth before attaching any wood parts! I didn't have to cut any holes amd cover with hardware cloth. This was part of the original run that was covered in hardware cloth. I used plexiglass rather than wood so this could double as a window for a light source. I didn't need to use 2x4s because I just used the roof edge for that part. BUT the concept is the same. Yeah, I have to fix the corner bits to be bigger. I just did this yesterday, not finished. (You can see a video of it being installed in my thread on here called " Altering my terrible TS coop")
View attachment 1546071

I love the idea of using plexiglas instead of wood! This is great!

 

[Cryss]

The idea is to prevent wind and rain entering into the hardware cloth covered hole but letting air flow out carrying moist air up and out as the warm air rises.

 

[Cryss]

I love the idea of using plexiglas instead of wood! This is great!

Thank you! I'm pretty pleased with it myself. Then I saw your post and realized it was the same thing! Now I know how to do this without having the roof ends. Kudos on the 2x4 trick!