Show me how you keep rain out

[gale65]

Our coop has 5 windows so that we can give the chickens a lot of fresh air this summer when it gets too hot. If it rains we'll just go out and close the windows part way (there is other ventilation up high as well and it's always open). But this summer we will be going on vacation for probably 2 weeks or maybe 2.5 weeks and someone will just be coming out once or twice a day to check for eggs and water/feed. But he doesn't live close so I don't want to have to worry about closing windows or rain getting in the coop. I'm worried that if it rains and he closes the windows, he may not be able to get back until later the next day and the chickens will be stuck in a hot coop (they will have constant outdoor access and will have shade but they seem to spend a lot of time in the coop when it's hot). DH is convinced that any type of awnings we put up won't last because we get so much wind here. But maybe something would last at least for the amount of time we're on vacation, hopefully. I thought about getting those louvered things to cover a couple of windows but I don't know if a) they would be available in the right sizes and b ) if they would restrict airflow too much.

Any ideas?

 

[fried green eggs]

I have wood T-111 lift up doors that cover my up high vent/windows and pop door - they kind of work like a awning would but much sturdier as they are hinged on the top and lift with a simple pully and rope from outside the pen. Sorry I don't have any pictures on this computer to show you.

 

[FarmTillURdead]

Just tonight I had this problem. I thought "fabric shower curtain". It would let air in and out but difuse rain to shed off. I am not fancy so I used pinching clamps (i didn't have clothes pins) to pinch an old beach towel to the chicken wire over my door. The way I my door is it will drain to the outside. Maybe this can help you? I like the air flow and I am going to work for a better way to do this for all these heavy spring rains so I don't have to squeegee my coop out! Yuck!

I may even sew some type of shade and find a way to affix it to the bottom of the outside of the windows. The rain should keep the dust off!

 

[pheonixstar15a]

A shower curtain , an old table cloth, a bamboo mat, anything to keep the moisture and cold out,i have screen on 1/2 of 2 sides and have been using a shower curtain to keep wind and rain out.

 

[gale65]

wouldn't a shower curtain stay down on the window and keep the air out? Or am I missing something? Since we'll be gone for at least 2 weeks and it'll be August, so generally about 90 and humid, I want to make sure they have plenty of air flow.

 

[Chemguy]

I think that the "awning" idea is an excellent one. It sounds like you have enough time to come up with an idea that works for you, with some left over for troubleshooting if needed.

ETA: I hope that there are some who can post pics to help you.

 

[abbylane35]

I think that the wooden "awning" idea would work great. Right now I have a window that used to be a long half of a door (so it's like a foot and a half wide and 6 and a half feet long) that we use for our window in our coop. We have it installed sideways on a hinge so that the window acts as it's own kind of awning. I leave it open pretty much all summer and don't really worry about closing it unless the rain is super bad (but even then, it seems to). We also have a good overhang on our gutters which helps to divert some of the rain too.

Hope you find a good solution to the window problem! And have a good time on your trip!

 

[Ole rooster]

If you have a wind problem you are going to have to to close the windows. I have 3 windows that are open and covered only with HC. I have a wooden shutter I close at night but I've not had rain come mine at all. On two sided I do have a least a foot overhang, but on the third it's on the eve side and open to the weather. So far so good. Two weeks is a long time not to clean out the coop. I would hate to be one of your chickens.

 

[Hunter0704]

As I understand your questions, you are looking for some way to keep the rain out of the coop while you are gone on vacation, yet keep ventilation moving?

A thought...get a small tarp you can attach to the top over the windows and add some pieces of wood to keep the sides of the tarp out away from the windows.. kind of like an awning....this will keep the weather out and still allow for fresh air to circulate. Attach the tarp using screws and washers placed about every 6-8 inches. Oh! Make sure you get a heavy duty tarp.

We live on a hill and it gets really windy up here...for the winter I bought a "heavy duty white tarp" from Home Depot (online only) that I nailed up, then went back and used screws and washers every 6-8 inches to totally secure the tarp so the wind wouldn't get inside and rip it. It is holding up great and there is no hint anywhere of any wear on the tarp. I got white because I wanted light to filter through into the coop...most tarps are black or gray and don't allow light to filter through.

Good luck!!!!! It's so great you are thinking ahead of time regarding the air flow and comfort of your chickens while you are on vacation!!! Good for you!!!

 

[Schroeder]

I looked at your coop page (I like it!) but I'm not sure which set of windows you are most worried about. I found the rain very rarely comes from the east, so I don't protect those windows. If you've considered a second run, maybe you could match the frame to the roof line, and use corrugated panels as "shutters." For mine, on the south side, it eliminated 99% of wind blown rain intrusion and helps shade against the summer sun.