Adding a 3rd window to OverEZ Chicken Coop - structurally OK?

[Sandbyter]

Hi, I have the large OverEZ chicken coop for my 5 11-week old girls. Here is a link:
https://overezchickencoop.com/collections/coops/products/large-overez-chicken-coop

Since we live just north of New York City, our summers are hot and very humid. Even though my coop is in the shade of a larger shed, it does not cool down well at night and I am worried I don't have enough air circulation.

The coop already has 2 windows on one side, I just purchased another window, same size and model, and I would like to build it into the door (a friend will help me with that). My question is about the window placement. Should I put it low in the door so I can get some cool air coming in and out the other 2 windows? Would that be bad because of easier access for predators (I will cover it with hardware cloth).
Would it make the door unstable or too heavy?
Should I put it at the same height as the other 2 windows? The new window would be facing east and it gets beautiful shade in the summer, but would also get nice morning sun in the winter.

Appreciate your opinions, still new to all of this. I'm attaching photos that show the new location and the new window as well as the door panel. The window would just fit perfectly in the door. I can always add another hinge for the added weight.

 

[middle TN Nancy]

That would work. I think the more ventilation the better. I recently added another window in the wall above my nest boxes so as to have better cross ventilation, but I just cut out as big a rectangle as would fit and covered it with hardware cloth, then added trim wood on the outside and inside over the hardware cloth to be doubly stout. It has definitely helped. One whole wall of my coop where it faces into the run is already entirely hardware cloth except for the pop door, but it just didn’t seem to pull much of a breeze through the coop. There is also ventilation under the eaves, but those areas are only 6” or so wide. The extra window over the nest boxes seems to be bringing in more fresh air from a direction that previously had no openings in the wall.

 

[aart]

Hard to say if it would weaken the door...tho the double OSB sheathing should be pretty stiff.
Is it a double hung window, only opening at the bottom?
Might work fine, height not too critical, might be better a bit lower.
One concern is rain infiltration, not sure how you'd handle that as these are meant to be installed with siding over the edge of window flange...the other windows are protected by roof over hang.

Might look at opening up the soffits for winter ventilation.

 

[pintail_drake2004]

Soffit or eve vents add a ton of ventilation for very little effort.

 

[Sandbyter]

Hard to say if it would weaken the door...tho the double OSB sheathing should be pretty stiff.
Is it a double hung window, only opening at the bottom?
Might work fine, height not too critical, might be better a bit lower.
One concern is rain infiltration, not sure how you'd handle that as these are meant to be installed with siding over the edge of window flange...the other windows are protected by roof over hang.

Might look at opening up the soffits for winter ventilation.

Yes, it's a double-hung window that only opens at the bottom. Thanks for pointing out the rain, hadn't thought of that. The coop builders covered the flange of the other windows with 1x2's, I was planning to do something similar. But you are right, the other 2 windows are under an overhang.
I was planning on opening this window on hot and humid summer nights to get some nice airflow with all windows open. I wonder if I could add a little roof right over the window, but also, always close it when there is rain in the forecast.

 

[Sandbyter]

Soffit or eve vents add a ton of ventilation for very little effort.

Yes, I will try that too. Just contacted a friend to help me cut some more 4" circles next to the existing ones. Maybe 2 more. Problem is I can only do that at the highest point of the coop on one side.
The left side where the door is has the electric outlet blocking the area next to it, so I can't add more holes there. On the right of the coop I have the run but I will cut more holes from the inside, then cover them with hardware cloth, also from the inside. I think 3 4" vents will be fine to leave open all winter as well.
The coop is placed right behind a large shed so I cannot access the rear wall from the outside.

 

[Sandbyter]

Oh, talking electric! I had removed these vent covers to increase ventilation - now I'm realizing I might have created a fire hazard because rain or snow could possibly blow in and reach my electric outlet. I will put them back In ASAP!

 

[aart]

Yes, I will try that too. Just contacted a friend to help me cut some more 4" circles next to the existing ones. Maybe 2 more. Problem is I can only do that at the highest point of the coop on one side.

Soffit venting would be removing the panel highlighted in blue and replacing it with HC.
..and doing the same on the other lower edge of roof.

 

[Sandbyter]

Soffit venting would be removing the panel highlighted in blue and replacing it with HC.
..and doing the same on the other lower edge of roof.
View attachment 2243868

Thanks for this tip. I looked at installing soffit venting, and it is indeed a nice easy solution. I will install 2 vents between the beams above the windows.

 

[aart]

Thanks for this tip. I looked at installing soffit venting, and it is indeed a nice easy solution. I will install 2 vents between the beams above the windows.

Take it off, take it all off!
Then cover the opening with HC.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-coop-page.65912/