As we draw closer to winter, chicken coop ventilation becomes increasingly important to the health of your flock. The age-old advice is that "chicken coops should be draft-free, but well-ventilated". Let's discuss this apparent contradiction in terms, and why a cupola is the best winter chicken coop ventilation.
Drafts vs. Ventilation
When it comes to chicken coops, a draft typically refers to air coming in through openings, cracks, or crevices down near the floor of the coop, while ventilation refers to openings higher in the coop (typically windows or vents under the eaves). Think of a draft as air that moves briskly and horizontally through the coop, while ventilation is air that moves slowly and vertically.
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.
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?
Chickens generate a lot of water vapor, both through their breath and their droppings. This water vapor tends to make the coop humid, and high humidity (particularly in cold weather) makes chickens more susceptible to respiratory illness and frostbite. Ventilation removes the humidity from the coop, keeping your birds healthy. Chickens can withstand surprisingly cold temperatures as long as the air is dry.
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.
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
Your winter chicken coop ventilation should be above the level of the chickens' heads when they are asleep on the roosting bars. A cupola is an easy, effective, and beautiful way to increase your coop's ventilation. Putting a louver cupola on your chicken coop adds much needed ventilation while protecting your flock from predators and the elements.
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.
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.
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