Barn Sash

[Huskeriowa]

Hi all,

I know it is a balancing act providing enough ventilation while still keeping the drafts down. The walls and ceiling of the coop will be 2 x 4 construction and insulated. My question is about barn sash. I see a lot of coops at this site use them. Are they well enough 'insulated' to use in a state like Iowa that can get cold? It would save money if I can use them but more importantly I would benefit from 100% ventilated window area as compared to less than 50% that I would get if i placed double hung windows in the coop. Thanks for any feedback.

 

[elmo]

I don't have Iowa winters to contend with, but we do get below freezing weather sometimes. What I did with my windows to winterize them is to insulate them with 6 mil plastic and bubble wrap sandwiched between the inside of the window and the hardware cloth underneath. Light still gets in to some degree, but there are no drafts from the windows and no condensation, either.

 

[Huskeriowa]

Thanks for responding. I will keep that in mind and possibly look at some weather stripping as well. thanks.

 

[welsummer4]

My henhouse has a barn sash on the south facing side, but I don't remove it in summer because there are widows on the west and east sides that open for extra cross ventilation.

We don't insulate or put any plastic on the windows in the winter (we live in south-central Wisconsin, so we have plenty of cold weather). If the windows are installed tightly so that drafts don't get in around the edges, you should be fine. Your chickens will do great in the winter as long as their coop is dry, sunny, draft-free, and well ventilated.
Here's a pic of my coop with barn sash:

 

[Redley]

I feel silly, what is a barn sash?
I'm pretty new to this whole chicken coop thing.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
It's just a plain, old fashioned wood window:

http://www.google.com/products/cata...og_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDEQ8wIwAg#

I used recycled wood windows and attached them awning style, hinged at the top, so they can be propped open in the spring, summer and fall.

And, by the way, not a silly question at all! Welcome to the forum, and feel free to ask away anything you don't know. That's how we all learned.

 

[Lee]

Interesting thread. I found wooden "sash windows" at Menard's and installed them with hinges at the top. Even though I painted them they only lasted a couple of years, rotting at the bottom. So I replaced them with plastic, PVC(?), sash windows and they work very well. I put them in the south facing wall so sunlight from the "low on the horizon" winter sun can shine in.

 

[Huskeriowa]

I love this site! Every situation is unique. You are either innovative or you fail. If you fail then try again. I like the suggestion of the vinyl sash and am going to use it. Further ventilation will be achieved via gable vents. $10.00 retail or less per sq ft of ventilation. Thanks for the help!

 

[patandchickens]

One thing you can do to provide a bit more insulation on plain glass windows is to tape bubblewrap over them for the winter (bubble side towards the glass), done airtight with doublesided tape the same way as you would install shrink-fit plastic over your house windows for the winter.

It only gives you an R of 1 or so, but it's a lot better than bare glass and WILL minimize condensate/frost, plus it still lets a good amount of light through.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Glad you asked. I'd never heard of them either, and I have a couple more posts than you do.