Drafts vs. Ventilation
Drafts are welcome in the summer as they help keep birds cool, but come winter they can pose a serious hazard to your flock. In the winter, drafts suck the heat out of your coop. Your birds will need to eat more food to stay warm and older birds could get sick and die. But while you want to eliminate drafts in the winter, making your coop completely air-tight leads to other problems.
Why is Ventilation Important?
Chicken droppings also produce ammonia fumes, which can damage your chickens' respiratory tracts at fairly low levels. Because chickens are close to the ground (where high concentrations of the fumes are initially located) you will want to vent the ammonia as quickly as possible. Ammonia fumes are lighter than air, so ventilation near the roof of the coop allows them to rise and exit the coop. In high humidity, however, ammonia vapors are actually heavier than air and will settle on the ground instead of rising. Openings under the eaves and in the roof allow humid air to escape as cross breezes draw in fresh air. The more time your chickens spend in the coop, the more important it is to supply good ventilation.
Cupolas: the Perfect Chicken Coop Ventilation
At Valley Forge Cupolas, all of our cupolas are built by Pennsylvania craftsmen using high-quality, durable materials that are designed to last a lifetime with minimal maintenance. We can customize a cupola to meet your specific needs and designs, such as extending the height of the louvers for increased ventilation. Keep your flock healthy and happy this winter with a cupola from Valley Forge Cupolas: 800-466-1776.