Ventilation questions - windows and upper vents

[C Siena]

Please excuse the image posted sideways. We are building our first-second coop (purchased the first one) and want to plan the ventilation. We already have the floor (3/4" sealed plywood) on studs/posts and have 2 wall frames set up, T1-11 will be the walls. It will be 8'x8'x8'-8'5".

The front with door and 2 windows will face south, the side to the run is east. It is shaded for the most part in the summer and has sun for the winter. Strong winds are from the west, which our home and woods, mostly block.

Should we place 4-5" of hardware cloth around the whole upper perimeter or only on 2 sides? Should we make small openings maybe 12"x12" close to the top, covered with hardware cloth, for additional ventilation?

Lastly, for now, would you place the nest boxes inside or place them outside, to allow for more room inside?

We will be moving 8 chicks into it in a week. They are 6+ weeks old and are in the run all day but taken inside at dusk. We have a silkie sitting on 7 eggs and hope several will hatch. These will eventually join the other 8.
We began with chicks last May and I really like it. My husband knows that I enjoy them...so he is building our coop. Our current coop is 4'x8'x8' with 8 chickens/1 roo.

 

[DobieLover]

The pitch you are showing in your diagram is not to scale with your dimensions. Metal roof panels require at least 3:12 pitch. You would need 8' in the front then 10' at the back of the coop, as shown on your drawing.

If you are going to have the entrance door at the front of the coop, that needs to be the high wall. Otherwise, if it's raining all the water will be dumping down on your head when you go to enter the building.

I would use 10' long 2x6s, 24" on center for the rafters and position them directly over the load bearing 2x4 studs also at 24" OC. Install 1/2" HC between the rafters and down over the top plate and then install your siding up to the tie plate to pin the HC. That way you have full ventilation running from the low side to the high side of your mono-pitch roof. Add large windows front and back that can be left open during the summer for good breezes across the roosts.

The nest boxes can be inside. Just set them lower than the roost height and they should be fine.

 

[C Siena]

Thank you. The one we have now has the low wall in the front and yes, I have been wet.

So you are saying to put the 4-5" HC on the top length of 2 sides w/o windows? We will also put HC over the windows.

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you. The one we have now has the low wall in the front and yes, I have been wet.

So you are saying to put the 4-5" HC on the top length of 2 sides w/o windows? We will also put HC over the windows.

Put secured ventilation anywhere you can get it where it is protected from rain/snow intrusion and, if needed, can be directed away from roosted birds during very cold weather.

 

[C Siena]

Thanks Tonya, We've been away for the day at Church and buying coop supplies. We are thinking of placing a 5" opening all around the coop top, as the front windows will be closed during the very cold weather. If my math is correct, and it could be wrong, that would be 13.3 sq ft on the perimeter of the top. We'll be purchasing the HC in a few days. Thanks so much. I'm glad someone replied to my post/questions.

 

[aart]

We are thinking of placing a 5" opening all around the coop top, as the front windows will be closed during the very cold weather. If my math is correct, and it could be wrong, that would be 13.3 sq ft on the perimeter of the top. We'll be purchasing the HC in a few days. Thanks so much.

Consider larger(~12") overhangs all around(I don't see any on the sides shown in your your sketch) the coop roof.
Fascia on the rafter ends will help block winds and blown snow.
Could also put the HC on the rafters outside, instead of fussing with between the rafters installation.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/

 

[C Siena]

Thanks, I will show this to my husband. Our current coop only has 5-6" of overhang and I told him that it needs to be more but wasn't sure how much more.
We are thinking of wrapping both runs with HC for protection. They go into the coop before twilight/dusk. But thinking if we go away for 2 days 1 night, our neighbor could just check to make sure all are inside the secure coop. Thanks again. This was going to be it...but I may consider a small coop/run for just silkies, my goodness they are Great broody hens.