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Can the coop be too dark?

post #1 of 9
7/31/12 at 7:33am
Thread Starter 

My coop is a converted shed with one window, but the window is sheltered by a little awning extending from the roof. I was told that if there were too many windows it would act like a greenhouse and be too hot. Will enough light be getting in for them to see properly getting in on a night? They make it to the first roost bar but not up to the higher bars.

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post #2 of 9
7/31/12 at 7:35am

How big is the window?

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“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
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 Crested Ducks                     Common Chicken Practices          Learn more about Avian Influenza

 

 

 
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
— Maya Angelou

 

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post #3 of 9
7/31/12 at 7:39am
Thread Starter 

2ft x 2ft, but the awning comes down above it.

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post #4 of 9
7/31/12 at 7:44am

You want to make sure you have adequate ventilation.  Is the window in question covered in glass or some sort of mesh or hardware cloth?  I don't think darkness is as much of a problem as air flow.

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post #5 of 9
7/31/12 at 9:51am

darkness may affect laying in the winter when there's not as much sunlight and they're indoors more (not sure where you're at so maybe yours are out all year long).

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post #6 of 9
7/31/12 at 10:00am

You want at least 5% of the coop as ventilation, and I would want windows, at least 1 set, across from each other for cross ventilation--to remove warm, moist air in the winter and allow a cross breeze in the summer.

Owned by 8 layers- 1Blk English Orpington Penelope, 1B Orpington Buffy, 1 EE Spazie,1 Buckeye Meg, 2 Delawares Clementine/Suzette and 2 Barred Rocks Polka/ Dot,1 Golden Retriever, Zeus, 1 Welsh Pembroke Corgi, Zoe`, and Jay-Jay the donkey, pasture protector. Wife to the chief coop builder for 24 years, Mom to 1 DD, Proud of our USAF Son-in-law, and Nana to grandson Blaine.

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Owned by 8 layers- 1Blk English Orpington Penelope, 1B Orpington Buffy, 1 EE Spazie,1 Buckeye Meg, 2 Delawares Clementine/Suzette and 2 Barred Rocks Polka/ Dot,1 Golden Retriever, Zeus, 1 Welsh Pembroke Corgi, Zoe`, and Jay-Jay the donkey, pasture protector. Wife to the chief coop builder for 24 years, Mom to 1 DD, Proud of our USAF Son-in-law, and Nana to grandson Blaine.

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post #7 of 9
7/31/12 at 12:40pm
Thread Starter 

I have plenty of ventilation holes already built in, the window is made of plastic but in the shadow of the awning therefore less light getting through.

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post #8 of 9
7/31/12 at 12:50pm

Humm, if you don't want another window and your venitlation is correct, how about raising the awning by a few inches Or shorting it? or adding an outdoor light. If the chickens are getting enough sunlight (kills pathogens and makes vitumin D, 30 Mins.to 1 hour), and the coop receives enough sunlight (kills pathogens) your golden.

Owned by 8 layers- 1Blk English Orpington Penelope, 1B Orpington Buffy, 1 EE Spazie,1 Buckeye Meg, 2 Delawares Clementine/Suzette and 2 Barred Rocks Polka/ Dot,1 Golden Retriever, Zeus, 1 Welsh Pembroke Corgi, Zoe`, and Jay-Jay the donkey, pasture protector. Wife to the chief coop builder for 24 years, Mom to 1 DD, Proud of our USAF Son-in-law, and Nana to grandson Blaine.

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Owned by 8 layers- 1Blk English Orpington Penelope, 1B Orpington Buffy, 1 EE Spazie,1 Buckeye Meg, 2 Delawares Clementine/Suzette and 2 Barred Rocks Polka/ Dot,1 Golden Retriever, Zeus, 1 Welsh Pembroke Corgi, Zoe`, and Jay-Jay the donkey, pasture protector. Wife to the chief coop builder for 24 years, Mom to 1 DD, Proud of our USAF Son-in-law, and Nana to grandson Blaine.

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post #9 of 9
8/1/12 at 5:26am
Thread Starter 

I was looking at adding a solar powered light, but the website advertises that the lights stay on for hours when they are charged. Would a light on all night be a problem for them? I presume the light will not be that bright being solar powered.

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