So...What to do? Ventilation vs Draft-free Coop. What gives?

[Kelly G]

So...I have a group of 11 pullets & cockerels that I'm growing out - they are English Buff Orpingtons...and they are now all feathered (6 weeks old today).

SO...in Florida - all coops are built with nothing but ventilation - you don't want to cook your chickens in there, so all were built with a ton of ventilation.

Now...in Western NC...temps are regularly getting into the upper teens at night.

So - what do you do? Ventilate? But then you have a draft?

I don't want my chickens suffering from upper respiratory problems...so I want to ventilate the coop...but I also don't want to chill them.

What does everyone do for their coops?

Photo of the coop when we first finished it...because right now they are in their ugly teenage/dinosaur age!

 

[lagrange chicks]

In my coop the ventilation is at least 2 1/2' above the roost, angled roof. My brother has an open coop, no door (probably 4'x7' open) but has no ventilation other than the door. My girls seem fine and so does his and were in Wisconsin, -3 for tonight.

 

[FrostRanger]

You want the ventilation high above their heads rather than underneath them. That's how you give them draft free ventilation. Do you have close up pictures of the coop including inside? We can't see important details from that far away. Also how many birds do you have and how big is the coop in feet?

 

[Kelly G]

In my coop the ventilation is at least 2 1/2' above the roost, angled roof. My brother has an open coop, no door (probably 4'x7' open) but has no ventilation other than the door. My girls seem fine and so does his and were in Wisconsin, -3 for tonight.

Ok!! Wisconsin for the win on freaking COLD!! LOL!! (My family is up in the Cable/Drummond area, if your familiar)...

So...2 and a half FEET above the roost....I'm not sure my coop is tall enough to do that..I do have that window in the front, but I imaging leaving that open when temps are 55F and up.

I guess I'm just worried about them being in there closed up for our "cold" weather...

 

[Sally PB]

I have air filter material stapled over the openings in my coop. It cuts the wind, but allows for ammonia and warm moist air to vent outside.

I also move the roost in the its "winter position," which is lower.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Your coop is tight for 11 birds. You need at least 1 square feet of ventilation per bird. I normally recommend placing ventilation in the soffits and under the eaves, but you don't have room there. Opening up the upper gable ends (and covering with hardware cloth and an awning of sorts) and installing a ridge vent might be your only options, though probably still not enough.

 

[WingItRanch]

I have air filter material stapled over the openings in my coop. It cuts the wind, but allows for ammonia and warm moist air to vent outside.

I also move the roost in the its "winter position," which is lower.

This is such an interesting idea!

 

[RoyalChick]

So...I have a group of 11 pullets & cockerels that I'm growing out - they are English Buff Orpingtons...and they are now all feathered (6 weeks old today).

SO...in Florida - all coops are built with nothing but ventilation - you don't want to cook your chickens in there, so all were built with a ton of ventilation.

Now...in Western NC...temps are regularly getting into the upper teens at night.

So - what do you do? Ventilate? But then you have a draft?

I don't want my chickens suffering from upper respiratory problems...so I want to ventilate the coop...but I also don't want to chill them.

What does everyone do for their coops?

Photo of the coop when we first finished it...because right now they are in their ugly teenage/dinosaur age!

View attachment 4005394

Have a read of this it might be helpful.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

I have lots of ventilation but it is way high up above everyone’s heads. I have baffles to stop snow blowing in during a blizzard.

 

[Kelly G]

You want the ventilation high above their heads rather than underneath them. That's how you give them draft free ventilation. Do you have close up pictures of the coop including inside? We can't see important details from that far away. Also how many birds do you have and how big is the coop in feet?

Oh! I missed this! Let me reply tomorrow!!!

 

[lagrange chicks]

Ok!! Wisconsin for the win on freaking COLD!! LOL!! (My family is up in the Cable/Drummond area, if your familiar)...

So...2 and a half FEET above the roost....I'm not sure my coop is tall enough to do that..I do have that window in the front, but I imaging leaving that open when temps are 55F and up.

I guess I'm just worried about them being in there closed up for our "cold" weather...

Yep, good friend has a cottage in Drummond. Like someone else said you could lower the roost.