NATURAL AIR DISPLACEMENT VENTILATION

Air flow through a loft is critical for the health both of the birds and the fancier. A natural air displacement system can help accomplish that requirement. It's not complicated or expensive to incorporate in the loft and can provide ventilation (outdoor air) to help to have safe, healthy and comfortable conditions in the loft without the use of fans and free cooling without the use of mechanical systems.

CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS
. the front of the loft should be oriented as close as possible with respect to the prevailing summer breezes (i.e., south orientation if prevailing westerly wind).
. exhaust vents or outlets should be on the opposite side and as high as possible.
. nothing should obstruct inlet or outlet openings.
. all sections of the loft should have an inlet and outlet opening,
.  Air should enter from one side of the loft only and exit from the opposite be careful not to create drafts with air entering from any other place. Drafts result in sick birds.

The first sketch gives a general idea of how the air would flow. The second sketch is an additional element  that can be added along the back wall. By covering the area between the studs, leaving an opening of about three inches at the top and bottom. Warm air will rises in what has become an air duct pulling cooler air across the loft floor and out the top through the same vent as for the air from the front window. The bottom and top opening can be covered with 1/2" or 3/4" wire mesh. Do not use a screen cloth as it would fill with dust, small feathers etc. If the roof of your loft comes to a peak several commercial peak vents are available with installation instructions from your building material outlet.

The system used in my loft is shown in the first two sketches. The air is always fresh, floors dry, very little dust, and the birds healthy. I can't take a picture of the air flow but here is a picture of one of the vents. I think a good indicator of how much dust and small particles flow through. The picture reminded me that it's time for the shopvac.

Between the breeders and flying sections of my loft is a solid wood wall. Three years ago I decided to remove a panel from the door and replace it with dowels so I could look into the breeders while in the young birds section. I was a big mistake. Within a couple days I has two sick hens in the breeding section. . Their perches was directly across from the new opening. Following is a sketch of what I think caused the sickness.

By removing the door panel I had changed the air flow in the loft. Instead of being front to back the air took the course of least resistance. The air entering the larger section through the two windows went through the smaller opening in the door. The 30" X 50" window in the smaller section was open top and bottom 10". It created a constant flow of air across the back wall of the smaller section where the birds perched. In effect a big draft as the exit became the 10" opening at the top of the window in that section.

After seeing the two sick birds I realized what I had done by removing the door panel. The panel was  reinstalled and none of the other birds became ill. Of the two hens, one died and the other recovered to raise prize winners for me that breeding season.

When mentioning this to to someone I was asked "Are you sure the hens were not already sick"? My answer was something to the effect "Not that I had noticed". The one hen that survived recovered very quickly. I believe had I noticed them sooner the other hen would have also.

A simple yet effective way to test the air flow in the loft is to blow smoke at floor level and watch as it exits.

If you want information on a mechanical system using an exhaust fan The Alberta Classic site has details on the system used in that loft. Click Here to go to the site.