Do I need a window in my coop?

[Jessie_Jazz]

Hiya, Have just started building my first coop (I have cut out my lengths of wood, so not very far along) and realised that my coop design doesn't include a window.
I was thinking of adding one in mainly for aesthetic reasons but my husband says it would be a hassle to change the design and order more wood.

So i was wondering:- do I need any windows in my coop or will it be ok without?
We have planned to have ventilation round all four walls by raising up the roof a little and chicken wiring the gap. The coop will be 4' by 5' and we live in the UK so don't really get extreme weather.
Is there any reason, other than to make it look good, that I would need to add a window to this coop?

 

[Quailbuddy]

I am still somewhat new to the whole " chicken thing " and i currently do not have chickens but am building my coop today

( I came in for a break and to look at the coop page . . . ) I dont think you need a window. I am adding one for looks but as long as you have good ventilation you should be good. I also am adding a window so i can look in the coop without opening the door and disturbing them

 

[BeccaOH]

Well, I love my windows. But it may depend on the size of coop you have whether a window is absolutely necessary.

In my 10X12 I have 5 large ones, and in my 8x16 there are 4 small. In my new little 4x6 there is one that won't open, plus there is a screened hatch that can open for air and light.

Chickens need the encouragement from sunlight to lay their eggs. Windows are extra ventilation when needed. They also provide you light to work inside.

I'd want at least a hatch that can be open for light in fair weather.

ETA: other poster had a good point about being able to see in to the chickens too.

 

[ranchhand]

Short answer? Yes. For daylight. As short as days can be in the UK, you want to take advantage of every minute of it.

 

[chickendude]

Ditto

 

[Ema]

animals need sunshine for extra vitamins, I would presume that chickens too would benefit from vitamin D, which is what we humans and animals produce when exposed to the sunlight. I haven't added windows to my coop yet because I have to get my husband to put a hole or two on the new wood we just put up on the barn (I have a coop built inside the barn in one of the corners) to say the least one I would hate to do it wrong and then have to replace that whole sheet of wood...lol...there is a chimney pipe above where the coop is, we purposely left it because I am going to add one of those window kits that bring sunlight down. I think that would be awesome to have in my coop and a neat way to save the pipe from being removed in short I would really recommend a window!!

 

[Jessie_Jazz]

Thanks for the advice guys, Hubby managed to pick up some really strong mesh from work that was going spare so we will use that.

There are 2 pieces about 1' by 91/2" we will put one in the door and one as a skylight so we dont have to change the plans for the main frame of the coop.

Do they need to have shutters?

 

[ducks4you]

Read my blog, and read this article:
If you are planning your new coop, please to read this article about open-front chicken houses and ventilation.
http://www.nortoncreekpress.com/fresh-air-poultry-houses2.html

Also, I need to link patandchickens two pages, "Ventilation" and "ole'muddy..."
This chapter changed my Coop-building-life...FOREVER!!
Seriously, your birds need a lot more ventilation than you might think they do.
YES, cut some windows!! Also, look at the little purple building, which is in the process of be rebuilt as my coop. I have windows which take up 1/2 of the east and 1/2 of the west walls, and there is a big window to the south, plus space for a entrance door with screens. (I plan to put in 1/2 hardware cloth in the windows and then build exterior storm windows for my coop.

 

[Jeeper1540]

my chickens have a nice big window, right in front of their roost, so when they get up in the morning they can look outside before they fly off the roost.

 

[AnnainMD]

I can promise you that you will need A LOT more ventilation than a gap around the perimeter. As someone above mentioned, reading patandchickens ventilation page is very educational. Good luck.