At what temperature should I start shutting their window at night?

Hi All,
So far so good. I have left the vent open all year and the two front windows cracked. The poop door my husband opened and closed every AM/PM. I want to start leaving the poop door open all night to (i'm waiting for a bit warmer temps first). Our coop is is in a secure pen, so I hoping all will fare well. I have six hens in my coop. They are all about 13 months old. Three red stars, two barred rocks and one Easter egger.
they all seems to be cold hardy. We did get eggs all winter. Sometimes three a day sometimes four, sometimes five. They only one who took a vaca was our EE. She started laying again every other day about a week ago.

Keep me posted.
Hope this helps! Good Luck.
 

Jack E, what do you think?

This is a 2'X4' window facing east. The firewood,5 rows deep is on the north and a metal roof on the run. On the south side of the run, plastic on the bottom. The west side of the coop does have a window which I closed a few weeks ago and don't plan on opening till next spring. North and south has a 7"X15" vent near the roof.
Point being, I think that wind will not be an issue with this window.
So, I plan on leaving this window open unless it gets below 0 degs and then being hinged on the top, close it 3/4 of the way.
The wind would have to be out of the east to be a problem and the run is 13' long. I also plan on keeping the chicken door open all year.
Last night it got to 9 deg and when I went out they were glad to come out into the run and then out into the yard.
 

Jack E, what do you think?

This is a 2'X4' window facing east. The firewood,5 rows deep is on the north and a metal roof on the run. On the south side of the run, plastic on the bottom. The west side of the coop does have a window which I closed a few weeks ago and don't plan on opening till next spring. North and south has a 7"X15" vent near the roof.
Point being, I think that wind will not be an issue with this window.
So, I plan on leaving this window open unless it gets below 0 degs and then being hinged on the top, close it 3/4 of the way.
The wind would have to be out of the east to be a problem and the run is 13' long. I also plan on keeping the chicken door open all year.
Last night it got to 9 deg and when I went out they were glad to come out into the run and then out into the yard.

How deep is the coop, behind that window? That's a big hole. And because you have those other vents, any wind from that direction is going to blow right in there. Giving your birds the dreaded feather disturbing draft. That's the thing with my coop. It's 16' deep, behind that open front. And there are no other vents open, to give the wind a path through. So I can get away with the wide open front. Also, Instead of putting the plastic wrap low, I would put it high, like covering the upper 1/2 of the run. That would help keep any wind from blowing directly at the big window/vent. That firewood is an excellent wind blocker.
 
Jack, thanks
OK I'll try to explain the layout. 6'X6' inside dim. coop, roost on west wall, 7X15 vents on N&S wall up high. (in the middle)
Big window on east wall facing run, which is covered and wood to the North and plastic to the south. Coop is to the west of the run. Just put the upper plastic on this aft, before I read your post, so it's here to stay. I actually sat on the roost, so to speak, one windy day to check this out and no wind on me.
If I see snow coming in from the east, I'll cover it the same as the south.


 
Last edited:
Jack, thanks
OK I'll try to explain the layout. 6'X6' inside dim. coop, roost on west wall, 7X15 vents on N&S wall up high. (in the middle)
Big window on east wall facing run, which is covered and wood to the North and plastic to the south. Coop is to the west of the run. Just put the upper plastic on this aft, before I read your post, so it's here to stay. I actually sat on the roost, so to speak, one windy day to check this out and no wind on me.
If I see snow coming in from the east, I'll cover it the same as the south.



Tell you what, seeing that view, you may be OK anyways. You have some good depth there. And like you said, all you have to do is go into the coop, and see what's going on. If they ain't in a wind tunnel, they're good. I hear you about that plastic, after wraslin with that, it's DONE.
 
Two nights ago, I closed that big window down, but left it propped open about a foot.
I just installed a wireless themometer this aft in the coop and is 28 deg in and 24 out. But a very windy day. (out)
After sat. I'll open it back up again as the temps are going to be a bit warmer, at least not in the single digits for a while.



It's morning now and the coop is 18 deg, 72% humidity. Outside is 13 deg, 72% humidity
 
Last edited:

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom