how to keep rain from coming in my windows?

[dftkarin]

I have a plywood coop with shed roof without much of an overhang and I have several large and small hinged flaps (except they are all hinged on the bottom so they can be left totally open easily) with the holes covered with hardware cloth on the inside. I had hoped that rain would not blow in the windows and last night it was raining so I only left the highest and smallest vent open. This morning a third of the litter in the coop was wet - all around that vent.
So I need to figure out a way to keep water from blowing in even with then flaps are open. I have searched on the Home Depot web site and checked my local hardware store but I can't find any mini awning type drip/rain covers. Does such a thing exist? Is there is an easy way to build some sort of covers for these windows?

 

[Marlinchaser]

Just make a triangle out of 2X2 big enough to overhang the open window then put some sort of roofing material, plastic sheet roofing would be easiest.

 

[homestead5er]

Give us a picture of your window. It will be easier to help you with your problem.

 

[Linda in San Diego]

Quote:
Like an outside shower curtain? LOL

 

[joebryant]

For $10 you can buy one of those strong-plastic, clear basement window covers from any place like Home Depot. They are the same thing as an awning and should work.

 

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
Like an outside shower curtain? LOL

Actually I was thinking more like an awning, we had them on grandmothers house, very light weight, ours were not necessary to keep rain out but in the summer it keept the sun out, and they were taken off in winter to let the suns heat in. Most hardware stores sell the plastic roofing for 10-15 a sheet which is 3 foot wide and 8 foot long, should be enough to the job.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...Comp_1=100052613&N=10000003+90034+501795+1457

comes clear if you still want the sun getting in

 

[dftkarin]

I like this idea - but how can I cut a 2"x2" into a triangle? Also, would I put the roofing stuff on with the waves horizontal instead of vertical? I would imagine it would be stronger with the waves running down, but it would be a lot easier to attach to the coop in a waterproof-able way if I had the waves running horizontally.

 

[patandchickens]

Honestly, by far the easiest thing would be to turn your flaps upside down (so the hinges are at the top). In fact if they were hinged high enough to be protected from drips by what roof overhang you have, you could almost put the top in *hooks* rather than hinges, so that when you want 'em fully open you just remove the whole panel entirely and set it on the ground. You could then rig chains or props or chocks to keep the flaps 'partway' open, on rainy days when you still want airflow.

What Marlinchaser suggests is probably a better solution, it's just a bit more work. You're not cutting anything into a triangle, you're making a triangular frame for a sloped little roof(let), like an awning, that will substantially overhang the window. There are various ways of constructing it - since it won't really be supporting much weight, especially if you use plastic for the 'roofing' material on the awning, I'd just go with whatever seems simplest to you.

Have fun,

Pat

 

[homestead5er]

I agree with Pat just reverse cover you can control opening with a piece chain. Now you even can control air flow in the winter.