Converting building into coop - how to cover windows?

[erkmos52]

Hi everyone, We are in the process of moving to a rural property outside of Duluth MN. We have an old playhouse that I would like to convert into a coop for my 34 chickens. It is in excellent condition and secure, but has windows on every wall. It also needs a layer of insulation, and ventilation in the eaves. I am planning on covering all of the windows except for the ones on the south side (The door is facing east). Would it be better to put the insulation over the windows, or to remove the windows and cover the holes with plywood? We thought keeping the windows may result in more condensation and moisture build up, but I'm not sure about this. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Your building will work out very well for a coop. What are it's dimensions, and how many birds do you plan to have? More than 34?
Condensation only happens when there's inadequate ventilation, it's not about windows, really.
I would plywood over the north windows, and the north-west and north-east windows, so there's a more enclosed back side of the building, at least.
Install louvered vents in both upper ends of the building; rain and snow won't enter through them.
Consider having more windows than just the south side, because summer ventilation matters too. In winter, partially close them leaving them open at the top for good ventilation. They need hardware cloth added anyway too.
Be careful about insulation; any cavity in the walls will become rodent heaven. Ask me how I know this!
For bears, you will need electric fencing around everything...
Mary

 

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

Hello! What a nice building! My daughter would have never let me give that to the chickens. ;-)

I recently converted a 12x12 barn/shed into our coop. It has 6 windows with glass and screen. I attached hardware cloth to the outside of the window frames so i could still use the window and screen functions.

Has worked perfectly so far!

My only complaint is that i have to remove the glass entirely when i have them open. I had to set up a picture frame concept with screws that are partially into the frames to allow protection from the rain but ventilation around them.

 

[snow5164]

We covered a few windows with foam board ,6 years later no mice but we have a few cats....

Windows we kept we stapled hardware cloth over the inside and outside ( removed glass), added a shutter . ...

You have way to many windows , one in each side would be enough and I might make sure the west side has a good closing one , because the west wind blows snow ..

Have fun , we converted a shed . Don’t worry about the mice , we dug out so our cats can get under coop and have poison up high in the building ... not as big as deal as you think , we needed to insulate and so should you

 

[erkmos52]

Thanks everyone for your comments! This building is 12x12 - I have 34 chickens right now and might get a few more in the spring, but not many. I think we will probably plywood over at least the back half of the windows, leaving those on the south side and one each on the east and west. I think we also need a new door - this one is flimsy aluminum. We will also add vents and an electric wire around the outside to keep the bears out (we already caught one on our trailcam coming up onto our deck at night!) I also know we definitely need insulation, as I have a mix of different breeds and it gets extremely cold here in the winter.

But, I have a couple more questions. First, flooring. This building has a wood floor that is in good shape, and I was thinking we would just add a layer of plywood so if spills from the waterer start to rot it, we can pull it out and and replace it. Does the floor need to be insulated as well, or is this good enough? I use the deep litter method in the wintertime. Second, supplemental heat. It is below zero here in the winter for long stretches, and I have some chickens that are not very cold hardy (ex: white faced black Spanish, Lakenvelder). I will only be adding cold hardy heavy breeds from now on, but since I already have these birds I want to take good care of them. Previously I have been using a flat panel heater in the coop on nights when it is below zero. With proper insulation, do they need this additional heat? I have read differing opinions on this and would like input from you all. Thanks again!

 

[Folly's place]

I have a partially insulated ceiling (in the actual coop section) and like it, especially in summer. I insulated the walls, and provided rodent housing, so had to tear it all out. My coop actually has three layers of wood siding; original boards, then clapboard siding, then T-111. It's grown over time! The new section has plywood covered in T-111. We don't yet have bears, so it works fine here.
The real problem with wood floors is what's underneath; the critters who can live there!
I'd install a dig-proof perimeter to manage it.
Mary