Chicken coops plans

Two of the most important aspects of building your own chicken coop is having adequate ventilation and insulation as it directly affects the health of the chickens. In order to maintain proper air quality in the chicken house, significant venting must be incorporated into your chicken coop design. At the end of the day, your proper coop ventilation and insulation will keep the chickens comfortable regardless of the season.

Proper Ventilation of a Chicken Coop

Chickens can withstand cold temperatures. However, they are quite vulnerable to drafts. Thus, it is important to provide ventilation in a way that minimizes drafts. The secret here is to control the general air flow patterns within the chicken house. During winter time, the only open vents are those that are generally located in or near the roof. This is above where the chickens reside. It is vital during winter to close off doors and windows in an airtight manner. This is the only sure way to reduce drafts. Ideally, the doors should be weather-stripped and glass. Plexiglass windows can be fixed to allow light in while eliminating air from entering during the cold weather.

During warm months, on the other hand, ventilation is important as well to maintain air quality. In addition, ventilation will help regulate temperatures within the house. With warm weather, the doors and windows may be left open, but should be screened. This is to keep the chicken safe from predators. During extremely hot summer, it may be advisable to replace one or two solid walls with screened walls instead. Introduce vents where the walls of the coop meet the roof and keep these venting area open as much as possible without allowing the rain to enter.

Furthermore, you can also plant tall shrubs and trees outside the chicken house to create a cooling effect. Make sure to check that the plants do not block the ventilation holes and windows too.

Proper Insulation of a Chicken Coop

The coop’s ventilation must work together with the equally important insulation. With proper insulation, your chickens will be kept cool during the summer and kept dry and warm during winter. As a suggested insulation, use 1.5 inches thick Styrofoam sheets between the coop’s walls and ceiling. This will serve as structural insulation and protection. You can also use white paint and aluminum roofing to reflect heat during summer months. To add insulation during winter, you can stack hay bales against the coop’s northern walls as well.

For a step-by-step guide to Building Chicken Coop, check out our site for more free tips, building advices, product reviews, and more blog updates. Need more details? Start with our Blog’s review on your blueprint on How to Build Chicken Coop Now.

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