more window questions

[gale65]

Our coop will be 5 x 10 with the 5' sides facing north and south (run to the south). I am planning windows on the north and south ends but should I also put windows on the east and west sides? There are no trees there so no shade around the coop. We have grain bins to the east but I am not sure if they would shade it in the morning or not. I worried that just two windows (plus 6" by full length vents up top on all 4 sides) would not let in enough light and/or air in the summer but would it on this size coop? I'm going to the restore shop tomorrow and hoping to find some windows.

 

[fiddlebanshee]

windows are expensive. With ventilation already there at 4 sides I think it's fine to have only windows at two opposite sides. If you can find cheap ones at restore i'd go for it, you can always make a shade on the ones that get the most sun to shield the coop in the summer.

Can you plant something at the south side to provide some shade to the coop?

 

[BrattishTaz]

I have windows on all sides due to the heat here. I think the initial expense would probably be worth it. I used openings with working shudders and hardwire cloth instead of traditional windows.

Planting a fruit tree or the like to provide shade sounds like a good idea as well.

 

[Judy]

I agree that you'll probably want the breeze on east and west sides in summer. What is a draft in winter is a welcome breeze in summer. Also agree that a hole with hardware cloth and a shutter or awning, or even a piece of tarp if you wish, is fine and how I would do it in your coop. I'm trying to get some honeysuckle growing, to shade one side of mine.

 

[gale65]

thanks everyone. There will be a tarp on the south side. We planted a tree in the run but it's at the opposite end from the coop. If I can get the windows cheap enough I'll get at least one for all 4 sides.

 

[Ole rooster]

I know I'm sorta weird and this is just me, but I have a real problem with glass in a chicken coop where I'm doing everything to ward off predators. I do realize behind the windows is the hardware cloth. But to my way of thinking if a critter is strong enough to tear through chicken wire, it can find a way to break a regular window pane. I have on window in mine and it is a piece of tempered glass that came from the demo work at the Atlanta airport. It measures 31X36 and I made a door out of it. If I want to disallow the light in the coop, I just drape the door. The other window are just opening covered with hardware cloth and a wooden cover/shutter to seal it off from the weather.

My fear of broken glass is the only reason I refused to install glass windows. Told ya I was strange.

 

[gale65]

well I did find a few windows today. I got 5 storm windows for about $35 total. Less than the cost of one new! It looks like they all swing open too (for cleaning) so I can just staple the hardware cloth on the inside and add wood strips and screws to hold it down good.

 

[redriver]

I have found this website to be extremely helpful when it comes to designing window location and size in relation to your latitude, building orientation, overhang, etc.

http://www.susdesign.com/tools.php

RedRiver