Coop Location - We live on a hill facing south

[Robotmomma]

Hi Egghead,

We live in zone 6, Southern Ohio in the USA.
I have a ton of old windows, I thought they liked the extra light. I have no experience.

Appreciate your advice. I was just going to frame it in, not having it functional as far as opening and closing. I don't have a rooster, we aren't allowed in city limits. So not south then. What do you think, East? Or really just no window? I just thought the extra light would be good and also save me money on materials. I was actually thinking of putting two windows.

 

[Judy]

Even in Ohio, you may find you have more problem keeping them cool enough in summer than you do with the cold in winter. For that reason I would probably go with East, so it's still relatively cool when the sun is shining in.

Do check out the first two links in my sig line, if you haven't already seen these excellent articles. She wrote another one on how to fix a muddy run, interestingly: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-fix-a-muddy-run-chicken-coop

I agree you don't really need windows -- but you do need natural light, as well as ventilation, of course. They do better if they see natural dawn and dusk, IMO. In my coop there are no windows but there are two large openings covered only with hardware cloth, plus soffits for light and ventilation all the way around.

 

[Robotmomma]

Thanks, Judy.

So now I am rethinking the windows. I was using them for convenience and to use what I have... I was worried they might get broken since they are glass. And they are really big too like 3' by 3'. But if I don't use them, then I have to pay for something to use as siding.... so my question is, are the windows just unnecessary or are they actually a bad idea.

 

[Robotmomma]

I am having a hard time getting this base level on the hill. But it is pretty close.

I was wondering if I could block predators with cement blocks buried in a line around the perimeter instead of burying hardware cloth. I just have cement block and trying to save money.

 

[aart]

I like windows in the coop, both for summer ventilation and natural light(especially in winter) for both the chooks and for me.

But agree south and west window can cook up a coop, I cover the south windows and have a shade cloth covering west window and wall of coop and part of run in summer.