Installation of ventilation in the chicken coop
The most common feathered representatives, which are bred in private farmsteads, are chickens. In order for the bird to please with its production indicators, it is necessary to provide all the necessary conditions for its comfortable existence. One of the important points in the care and maintenance of birds is the arrangement of the poultry house. In addition to perches, nests, feeders and drinkers, properly equipped ventilation in the chicken coop is also important.
Ventilation in the chicken coop
General Provisions
Ventilation in a chicken coop - what is it for? This is the first question that aspiring poultry farmers ask. Ventilation in the hen house must be present without fail. Ammonia fumes that are released from the waste products of pestles can cause poisoning and even reduce egg production... The hood in the hen house serves as a temperature regulator in the room, which is also important for the normal development and life of birds.
Thanks to ventilation in the hen house, you can easily keep the temperature under control at all times. In rooms with high or low humidity, pestles are much more likely to get sick, which can lead to a significant reduction in livestock. From the above, it becomes clear that high-quality ventilation in the chicken coop is a necessity. There are several different methods to help you design your cooker hood yourself.
What should be the ventilation system
In winter, in a chicken coop without ventilation, chickens will begin to get very sick as a result of increased humidity and the release of ammonia fumes, so the main task is to ensure the supply of oxygen and the removal of vapors. Ventilating the chicken coop during the winter presupposes protection from drafts, because birds are extremely susceptible to temperature extremes. If you are interested in ventilation in a hen house, its scheme should be drawn up in advance and laid down already at the stage of building a house.
Experienced poultry farmers recommend installing small grilles on the openings of the supply pipes to reduce the intensity of the air supply. Ventilation in a home chicken coop is not a panacea, so do not forget about thorough cleaning and hygiene of the premises. Feces should be regularly cleaned and disinfected, and containers for food and water should be washed.
A simple experiment will help to determine how correctly the work on installing ventilation in the chicken coop is done. For a while, you need to stay in the house and observe your feelings. If after 10 minutes a migraine appears, nausea or a lack of oxygen begins to be felt, then it is necessary to correct the structure.
What are the types of exhaust systems
The ventilation device in the hen house takes into account several important factors:
- the amount of air supplied inside will directly depend on the density of planting;
- the air supply should be easily regulated, especially on frosty days, because pestles react negatively to drafts.
Ventilation in the hen house is presented in several variations: natural design, supply and exhaust, forced. The first method is appropriate for areas with a small population. It will not be difficult to make such a system with your own hands, even if you have never encountered a similar one. The advantage of the method is its ease of use.
The second option is one of the types of natural ventilation. This method is best suited for small house owners. The advantage of the method is that you can regulate the thermal regime and avoid drafts, which is especially important in winter.
The third option is used less often, mainly for poultry houses with a large area. This system is presented in the form of a ventilation regulating pipe, into which a fan is inserted. An automatic system is also made by placing a fan in a wall or window opening.
How the natural system works
This ventilation method involves simple ventilation by opening doors or a window opening. Despite the fact that the method is very simple at first glance, it is important to take into account some of the nuances. For optimized ventilation of the chicken coop in a natural way, in order to avoid drafts, it is necessary to make an exhaust window in the wall, above the entrance or in the ceiling. A good way to do this is to make a small flap vent to manually adjust the air supply.
The design of the window opening for ventilation is performed even during the construction of the chicken coop. Initially, they determine in what place they will be nests and perches... Then a hole is made for the window. It is important to take into account the fact that the dormer window on the ceiling cannot be used in bad weather, which means that on a rainy day, the chickens will remain in an unventilated room.
The scheme of the method is that air from the street enters the house through the doorway, and the stagnant air is removed through the window. This ventilation method can be used at first, because it has a lot of disadvantages. A negative feature is the impossibility of optimal ventilation in winter. The warm air in the chicken coop will be very much cooled, therefore, it will have to be heated with electricity, which is completely unprofitable.
One of the variations of a simple ventilation system
Do-it-yourself supply and exhaust structure made of plastic pipes is quite simple. This option would be ideal for a barn in which no more than 20 individuals live. For manufacturing, you need a pair of plastic pipes with a circumference of 200 mm and a length of 2 meters. Previously, when the roof is mounted, holes are left for the output of pipes. It is necessary to plan the device so that the supply pipe is at the maximum distance from the nests and sleep poles.
The supply and exhaust mechanism works like this:
- The inlet pipe is fixed 35 cm above the roof level; in the house, the acceptable distance of the inlet from the floor is about 25 cm.
- The outlet pipe should exit as close as possible to the nests, while the lower end should hang 30 cm from the ceiling and rise 150 cm above the roof.
- To prevent water from getting into the mechanisms, they are equipped with umbrellas.
- To prevent the room from overcooling on frosty days, a fine mesh mesh must be attached to the supply pipe.
- For even distribution of air, pipes should be installed in opposite parts of the chicken coop.
Mechanical ventilation system
Do-it-yourself automatic ventilation in a chicken coop is performed in private households for a shed with a large area. Most often, this type of ventilation is used in poultry farms. The system operates by circulating air with a fan.The device is turned on manually, however, if you are friends with an electrician, then it will not be difficult for you to automate the process and install humidity control sensors. The only drawback is the additional cost of electricity.
For installation you will need:
- insulating tape;
- a piece of cable;
- plywood sheet;
- fan;
- switch.
Initially, the installation site is selected. The easiest way is to install it in a window opening. To do this, simply take out the glass from the frame and install a sheet of plywood with a hole made for the fan. Plywood is attached to the window with self-tapping screws, then the cable is connected and the fan is connected to the network. Install the switch and insulate the exposed contacts.
This ventilation method has several disadvantages, including the high price, the need for electricity supply. The advantages of this design are that constant monitoring is not required on your part, and with the help of such a system, sufficiently large areas can be ventilated. Do-it-yourself ventilation can be done on the video, which describes in detail each step.
Conclusions, generalization of information
How to make ventilation in a chicken coop, any poultry breeder should know. For normal life and development of chickens, it is necessary to ensure clean air, optimal temperature and humidity. If these indicators deviate from the norm, symptoms may appear in chickens. various diseases, as a result of which you can lose a significant part of the livestock. The ventilation of the hen house must be installed based on certain criteria, according to which the calculation of the scheme will be made.
The exhaust system is divided into 2 main types:
- natural;
- forced or mechanical.
One of the most popular is considered to be a type of natural ventilation, made with PVC or metal pipes - a supply and exhaust system. Whichever of the variations is chosen, its design begins from the moment barn buildings... The correct layout will create the most comfortable conditions for the birds.
Do not forget that, in addition to ventilation, it is necessary to carry out frequent hygienic cleaning of the room. Feeders should be washed regularly after wet feed. The water in the drinking bowls must be changed every two days, remembering to wash them thoroughly.
The main factors that a person should be guided by when choosing a ventilation system are:
- number of chickens;
- chicken coop area.
Based on these two indicators, a person can calculate how much air will be optimal. Based on this, it will already be possible to say which ventilation system to choose. For example, for a small shed with a population of 10 individuals, it is impractical to install an automatic system; here you can do with a ventilation window. If the area is too large, then even forced systems will have to be installed several. After reading the article, you can draw your own conclusions, and for the reliability of beliefs, you should also watch educational videos on this topic in order to understand exactly whether high-quality ventilation is needed in the chicken coop.