Drafty Windows

[Kmf]

I would rather not buy regular windows for the coop that I am going to be building. Any info on what you have used and what you did to keep them from being drafty in the winter would be appreciated. I am going to cover them with hardware cloth and thought that I would make a plexiglass slide window for them, but I am open to any suggestions!! Thanks!!

 

[valentinebaby]

I made my own window frames by using cedar 1x2 and putting a channel down the middle to slide the glass into. Then I carefully nailed a long exterior skinny nail through the side piece and bottom/top. They're not as perfectly strong as one you would put in your home, but they do the trick! Take a look at my BYC page and you can see a pic where I've shown the channeling. The etched window was a cheap single pane piece I picked up at Lowe's, but I would have preferred double strength - box stores don't carry that. Good luck!

 

[valentinebaby]

Forgot to mention, I also put 1/4" hardware cloth and window screen (to keep out dirt dobbers, wasps, etc.) on the inside of the coop covering each opening.

 

[elmo]

Unless you put your chickens' roost right in front of the window and they have nowhere else to sit, I wouldn't worry too much about drafts. You don't need to make your window completely airtight.

Ventilation is probably something we should all worry about more in our chicken coops because of the way a chicken's respiratory system works.

 

[Kmf]

I've got plenty of ventilation planned, but was just worried about the drafts in the winter. I will make sure the roost isn't by the window. Thanks

 

[CityChook]

from MN -

I put house windows in mine. Got them VERY CHEAP off craigslist. Found out AFTER I bought them that many friends had windows to give me FOR FREE, if I had only publicized that I was on a search. Rats.

If you frame the window properly, you could put the blow-dry-able plastic window film in the windows for the winter season. Don't count on using these windows for your ventilation come high winter. It won't work.

 

[patandchickens]

Windows can be weatherstripped/caulked/taped-with-staples/stuffed-with-newspaper/etc to prevent drafts. It's not really a problem as long as you have winter-appropriate vents... you just decommission the window for the season, seal it up, and don't 'uncork' it til April

The vents you use in winter do not have to seal airtight, as they will already be in a location where it is ok to be having airflow. Although, if the coop is sited where it gets horizontal snow a lot, weatherstripping the upwind vents can be useful so that when you close them they don't continue to sift snow indoors.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat