How many of you have some sort of sky light on your coop? If so what did you use and how did you do it. I'm thinking of using a window and just sealing it really really well.
I'm doing that with the new coops that I'm building. I have wire mesh to put over it for ventilation, especially in the hot summers. Then I have a cover for it to use during bad weather so that the rain / snow cannot get into the coop.
I have an 8" square sky light... just your regular Home Depot variety. I had my coop done before I found BYC, but I'd do the same thing if I had it to do over again.
i used that corrugated fiberglass that matches the tin on the rest of the building. the thing i would woory about with putting a window on the roof is it getting broken out by hail (although i don't know where you live)
I would advise against using a window -- it is hard enough to get proper skylights not to leak, a window without extensive flashing is likely to be a lost cause. The simplest thing, by far, is to use plastic roofing and make one of the panels translucent or transparent. Beware excessive heat gain, especially in a small-volume coop, though; at the very least, best to put it on a north-sloping roof and make sure the coop has LOTS of ventilation that can potentially be opened up. If you really have your heart set on a shingled roof, best to use a skylight with all its appropriate flashing... but it may still leak a bit, especially if you are using a secondhand one (often they're secondhand *because of* leaks, some of whcih are installation issues but others are structural to the skylight itself). JMHO, good luck, have fun, Pat
Maybe instead of putting in a skylight I will put in a second window. I like the idea of having alot of light for my hens as well as being able to let my family (especially my 2 year old) watch them while there in there with out opening the door.....that could be a disaster....lol.
We just started ours this weekend. I've had this old door in our garage for years and I think it may be original to the house. I've fought with DH every year to keep him from throwing it away. He threw the screen door out a few years ago and I about killed him. I wish we had it now for this project. This isn't a skylight, but it should provide plenty of sunlight.
