Squirrel baffle to block chickens from sitting on A/C window unit?

[imagirlgeek]

Hi all! I built my coop by framing in a lean-to that is attached to a building that has an A/C window unit in it. That means that the back of the window unit is inside the coop. It is about 30" from the roof, and measures 24" wide. I definitely don't want chickens roosting on it and had initially planned on building a cage around it out of extra hardware cloth. BUT, now I'm wondering if I just buy a 24" squirrel baffle and hang it from the roof over the window unit...would that deter them from wanting up there? It would definitely be easier to rig up.

My chicks are 2 weeks old (my first), so I've still got some time to get the finishing touches done, but I'm also at the point where I don't want to waste money on something that has already been proven to not work. I am open to suggestions and not afraid to get creative with DIY options. Thoughts?

PS - I was going to include a photo, but when I went outside the coop entrance was blocked by a copperhead...so maybe later. lol

Edit to add photo. Copperhead is handled.

 

[Debbie292d]

I think your idea would work but I think we'd take that out as I'm assuming you're not planning to run it. The front of it on the inside is going to get full of chicken dander.

You could cover the hole on the inside with hardware cloth, then put your baffles on the outside to keep rain out.

I'm not sure where you live as that might make a difference. You can put your location in your profile, which helps on posts like this. It's under Account Details.

 

[imagirlgeek]

Ah! I didn't consider that it would pull dander, but yes...that makes sense. I don't run it often, since I use that room for storage mostly, but it currently contains the brooder with 10 4-week-old chicks. It's nice to have a room with temperature controls as an option since I'm in southeast Texas (updated my location too). I'm actually running the unit now in fan mode just to circulate the air in there. We've had a few really hot days lately. Yesterday it got up to 88 in their room, so that's when I kicked on the fan.

I do like your suggestion of just removing it. Since making the original post, I've considered a future where I partition that room, take out the A/C unit, and put a ramp up to the hole so they could have an indoor space if they want it. But that is definitely a future project since it would require framing and walling off that room so I don't lose all of the storage. Plus there's a sink, shower and toilet in there (I don't know why...previous owners built it) that I wouldn't want them to have access to.

Thank you for the comments and for the push to just take it out. I think you're right about that being the best option...for reasons I hadn't even considered.

 

[Debbie292d]

Ah! I didn't consider that it would pull dander, but yes...that makes sense. I don't run it often, since I use that room for storage mostly, but it currently contains the brooder with 10 4-week-old chicks. It's nice to have a room with temperature controls as an option since I'm in southeast Texas (updated my location too). I'm actually running the unit now in fan mode just to circulate the air in there. We've had a few really hot days lately. Yesterday it got up to 88 in their room, so that's when I kicked on the fan.

I do like your suggestion of just removing it. Since making the original post, I've considered a future where I partition that room, take out the A/C unit, and put a ramp up to the hole so they could have an indoor space if they want it. But that is definitely a future project since it would require framing and walling off that room so I don't lose all of the storage. Plus there's a sink, shower and toilet in there (I don't know why...previous owners built it) that I wouldn't want them to have access to.

Thank you for the comments and for the push to just take it out. I think you're right about that being the best option...for reasons I hadn't even considered.

Now that I know where you are, depending on if you're using that shed for a permanent coop or not, it may get scorching hot in there when your temps hit in the 90s and 100s, especially if it's not in the shade. Maybe I'm wrong to now have you reconsider, but I'm thinking you actually may want to keep it in there and figure out a way to put another filter in front of it to not to have it sucking up all the dander as that'll probably clog it up.

We're in Wisconsin, and just bought a new customized Amish shed, and made sure the window on the end could hold an air conditioner. Not sure we'll ever need it, but we've been known to have a couple of weeks of the 90s and 100s so wanted to be able to use one if it gets bad in there.

 

[imagirlgeek]

Now that I know where you are, depending on if you're using that shed for a permanent coop or not, it may get scorching hot in there when your temps hit in the 90s and 100s, especially if it's not in the shade. Maybe I'm wrong to now have you reconsider, but I'm thinking you actually may want to keep it in there and figure out a way to put another filter in front of it to not to have it sucking up all the dander as that'll probably clog it up.

We're in Wisconsin, and just bought a new customized Amish shed, and made sure the window on the end could hold an air conditioner. Not sure we'll ever need it, but we've been known to have a couple of weeks of the 90s and 100s so wanted to be able to use one if it gets bad in there.

I didn't have plans to convert it to a permanent coop, it's mostly just an idea at this point. Since this is my first attempt at raising a chicken army, I'm trying to leave a lot of room to pivot as I'm learning. For example, we got 4" of rain over the last couple of days, and I am definitely going to need a solution for that. The coop was soaked and the nesting boxes are particularly soggy. I'm just glad I found out before anyone was living in there. I expect to have a lot of things like this come up as I go, so I'm trying to be as flexible as possible. I am dreading the summer heat, but the coop is covered, open air, and shaded, so hopefully it won't get too bad in there.