ventilation louvered gable vents?

[okiemamachick]

Hello I'll be turning an outdoor building into my new coop it has two windows but I know I'll need more ventilation. I'm in Oklahoma so hot humid summers usually cold wetish winters. I read the popular ventilation page on here and she mentioned louvered gable vents and they sounded like just what I need. But all the ones I'm seeing (home depot) are at least 30 bucks for one of decent size (12×12 I believe) is there a cheaper option? I was going to put at least 6 in the coop but that's pretty spendy considering all the other modifications I'll be doing as well (partitioning part of the building off for a feed area and building an attached run and things like that). Any tips or ideas for me?

 

[21hens-incharge]

How about making it a smaller window type opening?
You can make it awning open to keep the wind from whipping in as much and in really severe wind conditions you can close the ones that the wind is whipping in.
Thinking like the ones here
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/jj-hen-huts-member-page

How tall will your coop be? If it is to tall to easily reach then opening and closing ones would perhaps not work.

I know the ones you are mentioning at Home Depot. Not strong at all. A racoon can be on the roof and pull them apart too.

Can you cut a hole and make a frame then have screwed in slats to prevent nasty critters getting in?
This one will perhaps give you some ideas.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/kriquets-chicken-coop

If you do the slatted vent you may want to keep it under a large overhang to keep the snow out.

Today it is very windy and snowy. I have an overhang on the right in this pic and have the underside hardware clothed in. I had to put up plastic on the inside since the snow was finding a way inside my coop.




Best wishes

Babs

 

[okiemamachick]

Great suggestions! Thank you! I figured they were cheapo but I had planed on putting hardware cloth on the inside of the coop so no critters can get in. But I may just do the sliding hatch with hardware cloth over the holes! I can even attach a pull for the ones up high so I can just pull a rope and they open and let it loose g for them to close. Hmmmmmm I would need to figure out a way to make small awnings for them and then we're talking more $ (possibly) I don't mind spending the money (within reason ) but I do want to be economical if that makes sense? The building itself is up off the ground on skids and it's waaaay plenty tall enough for grownups to walk around inside. My grandma used it as a store building to sell antiques out of so it's ts quite roomy. There's not much of anti overhang on the roof it's actually a problem because it doesn't eject the rain away away nd it hits the bottom edge of the building on that he outside and has caused some rot over the years which it sss something else I will be fixing (the rot not the overhang I'm not sire how I'd fix the overhang issue except guttering)

 

[21hens-incharge]

I used the pieces I cut out to make the opening and made a frame out of 1x3's. It was rather cheap to do.

This is the large north "window" (I think of it as a hatch lol)



I was still working on the coop at this point and had a long way to go. We had a down pour come in and had to tarp off just after setting the rafters.

 

[RonC]

Chickens are generally better off with plenty of ventilation as long as there is not a draft blowing on them. Humidity buildup causes more problems than fresh air. Hardware cloth is your friend against critters. Just make sure it is firmly attached as they can be very determined.

 

[okiemamachick]

I like the hatch idea better than the sliding pop door" style for sure! It would basically make its own awning as long as the door is painted real good against the weather is would think it'd be ok? Yes Ronc that's why this thread is here lol I'm trying to figure out the best way to go about it.

 

[RonC]

I think the gable vents with hardware cloth securely attached behind them would work well. It would keep the drafts away from the chickens but still allow ventilation. If you feel it is necessary you could make a flap you can close in really cold weather.

 

[okiemamachick]

That's true Ronc! And a good idea lol I wonder if I could just cut a hole and put a vent cover like for the air intake on a central ac unit they come in all sizes I wonder how pricey those are hmmmm

 

[21hens-incharge]

If you go with the premade louvers just remember they are made to have very few mounting points. You can drill small holes and bolt them to the building more securely.

Best wishes

Babs

 

[okiemamachick]

Thanks! I'm really liking the hatch idea luckily I have time to decide lol yall have been a great help!