So, you’ve decided to raise your own chickens? Want to make them happy and healthy all year? Fresh air inside your coop is essential to the health of your chickens. You’ll threaten their health if you completely seal your chicken coop, even in winter. But how do you ventilate a small chicken coop?

One rule of thumb is that you provide 1 square foot of permanent ventilation per chicken. You can create airflow in your chicken coop in several ways. Following are 5 easy ways to ventilate your small chicken coop.

Gable Vents: Chicken droppings (and the chickens breathing) create a high-humidity environment. Moreover, the ammonia vapors from the droppings need to escape. To release those fumes and mitigate moisture buildup, add gable vents or vents in the eaves above roost level.

Cupola: Smaller size cupolas from Cupolas Direct are perfect for small chicken coops. They not only provide a source of ventilation, but chicken coop cupolas can also turn your chicken hut into a quaint outbuilding with charm. Not sure what size cupola is best for your chicken coop? We offer cupola size guidelines here.

Since cupolas are located on the roof of the coop, they basically serve as an attractive vented box. A chicken coop cupola on its own won’t be enough to create airflow, but when combined with a roof gap, it can help create great, elevated ventilation. Remember to use a wire mesh barrier or sturdy hardware cloth wherever there is a gap in your structure to prevent predators from entering.

Want to add even more curb appeal? Add a small aluminum rooster weathervane to the top of your chicken coop cupola.

Windows: Windows for your chicken coop are especially important in the summer. However, you don’t necessarily need to install manufactured windows. Rather, you can create openings in your coop to serve as windows if you have protective coverings for those openings. Hardware cloth or chicken wire can serve this purpose. Add hinged wood panels that cover these holes for use during winter. Windows are nice in that they also add needed light.

Roof Gap or Floating Roof: Leave an approximate 3-inch gap between your coop and its roof at its front and its back, or at each side, or build a floating roof affixed to the base of your coop but not attached to any of the sides. Basically, create a gap so that air can flow through. You will need to extend hardware cloth or wire mesh over the gap you create, however, so that predators can’t get inside. Small boards of insulation can be inserted against the gaps through winter if needed, but make sure air is still moving through your coop throughout the season.

Exhaust Fans: Find a small exhaust fan that can be easily installed. Solar-powered fans are a great option since they require no electric work, extension cords, etc. An exhaust fan made for a doghouse will also likely make a nice fan for a small chicken coop. Solar-powered exhaust fans are easy to install and will help keep air moving inside your coop.

Raising your own chickens doesn’t mean you’ll save on the price of eggs, but it does mean you’ll know where your eggs are sourced. More importantly, raising chickens can be fun. Just make sure, in return, you provide enough ventilation to keep them healthy year-round.