Advice on Coop Windows

[rosieabby]

Hi everyone!
We are in the midst of building the coop for our 4 week-old chicks. (Can't wait to get these girls out of the house and into their own space!) We are stuck on choosing the window.
Our current choices are:
1) Using an old sash window we found (a little too big for the space, I think.)
2) Buying a new barn sash window that's a better size.

We plan to attach the window with hinges from the top.
Do you think the older window would be draftier than buying a new one?
Is it better to have multiple smaller windows than one big one?

We are in Mass so the winters can be cold and windy!

Thanks!

 

[Latestarter]

IMHO, use what you have/can repurpose. It's a chicken coop after all, not a vacation home. Do what works for you!

 

[Latestarter]

As an aside, more ventilation(as opposed to drafts) is ALWAYS a good thing! More air can move through a large opening than through multiple smaller openings.

 

[snow5164]

More windows are always better. We are in a very cold zone,we framed in an opening put hardware cloth in between frame , cut plexi glass to fit into opening for winter from the outside , covered that with foam insulation, and shut the shutters for winter ,

Cheaper then the$125 shed windows we found

 

[rosieabby]

As an aside, more ventilation(as opposed to drafts) is ALWAYS a good thing! More air can move through a large opening than through multiple smaller openings.

Yes, I've been thinking a lot about ventilation as well! I took a look at your haciendas and I have a question. Did you seal up under the eaves? We have a similar roof on our coop and have been talking about what to do.
Thanks!!

 

[rosieabby]

More windows are always better. We are in a very cold zone,we framed in an opening put hardware cloth in between frame , cut plexi glass to fit into opening for winter from the outside , covered that with foam insulation, and shut the shutters for winter ,

Cheaper then the$125 shed windows we found View attachment 1468048 View attachment 1468049

Yes! I was surprised at how much the shed windows were. I found $20 barn sash windows at Menard's thanks to a post on this site, but we live on the east coast and they don't ship them!

I love the chicken in your window!!

 

[True Patriot]

First, I'd reuse what you have. It's a coop. As long as it isn't so big it affects the structural integrity go the inexpensive route. For the eaves you can fill them in with hardware cloth. For an example look on my coop page. I have some pics of what I'm building. When it turns colder you can cut styrofoam blocks to reduce the air flow.

 

[Latestarter]

I took a look at your haciendas and I have a question. Did you seal up under the eaves? We have a similar roof on our coop and have been talking about what to do.

I stapled regular window screening on the inside of the eves, and hardware cloth on the outside and left all of them completely open for ventilation. Heat rises and the floor vents allowed cooler air in as the hot air would vent up top and out the windows. This was on the front range of Colorado and we had winter night temps down to -20°f. Now, as you may know, chickens produce a LOT of "dust/dander". It was left that way; open, year round.

I would take the hose and jet spray up into the eves maybe twice a year to wash all that dust out and open the "pores" of the screening/HW Cloth. I suppose the same could be done with high pressure air, but I didn't want to deal with a ladder to get close enough to do so, and everything dried out within hours in any case.

 

[pennyJo1960]

We sloped the roof on the two we built from shipping crates so lifted then hardware cloth
over all of it but when I clean it hose can be used or air to clean it windows have hardware cloth and glass

 

[rosieabby]

First, I'd reuse what you have. It's a coop. As long as it isn't so big it affects the structural integrity go the inexpensive route. For the eaves you can fill them in with hardware cloth. For an example look on my coop page. I have some pics of what I'm building. When it turns colder you can cut styrofoam blocks to reduce the air flow.

Those pics were super helpful. Thanks! I'm brand new to this and a little anxious so hearing from you guys is great!