coop windows in winter -- drafty or ventilation?

[siouxbee]

Hi --

I'm still planning out my coop, or how best to turn the too-heavy tractor into a large enough coop for my girls. I'm now thinking windows. When we had to replace some windows, I saved the old double hung windows. Don't have the frame for it, just the top and bottom half. I was going to use those in my coop, and put hinges on them so I could open them in warmer weather.

But will they be too drafty for a New England weather or will that contribute to healthy ventilation? I chose hardy breeds, but I don't want to freeze them out.

Thanks

 

[4H kids and mom]

It will depend mainly, I'd think, on wether said birds will be grown by winter, or still chicks. If they're grown, and hardy breeds, you should be fine. You could hang some plastic sheeting over the window if they seemed really cold, or even put a heat lamp in the coop with them. If they'll be chicks, even hardy chicks, when its cold, I'd hold off on putting in the windows until it warms up. Might get too drafty for the little peeps. But, windows do provide much needed ventilation. Make sure on warm weather days, you open them because I am finding that chicken poo turns to dust, the chickens scratch and you have dust everywhere. Very bad.

Open airy coops help clear out the "poo dust".

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

We did it up here in Alaska and havent had any problems yet. On the backside of the window we used "insulation tape" and a latch holds the window pretty snug. when it gets really cold we put some insulation inside the coop over the widow. we also have an awning set up over their perch so when it gets so cold we turn on the heat lamps it holds a pocket of heat close to the perch and nests but doesnt interfere with them getting to or from them.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Basically, if the air flow is blowing across the birds where they're roosting, that's a draft. If it's not blowing across the birds, that's ventilation. You need to look at where air is coming in and where it exits.

If your windows end up letting in air when closed and the coop is small enough that you can't keep the window draft from blowing on the birds, then you can always put plastic over it during the cold months and add other, more discrete, ventilation holes. In the warmer months, when you need additional ventilation, you can then uncover the windows.

I am the queen of run-on sentences...

 

[siouxbee]

Thanks for all the help. I was planning on building the roosts in front of the window so they'd be able to look out the ones that aren't at ground level, but maybe I'll rethink that. They will be in the tractor or ark on the lawn most days in nice weather, but in the coop for the winter so I figured more light and ability to see outside is better.

And I had wondered if they would eat the plastic covering the windows if I chose to try that to cut down the draft, so it's good to know I can do that if I do build the roosts near the windows.

Thanks again,
Sioux

 

[schmoo]

Also if your concerned they'll eat it, you could put the plastic on the outside of the window during winter

Thats what I plan to do.