Too many windows

[Ronbart]

Let me start by saying I am trying to build my coop mainly with materials I already have stock piled. It is will be 4 x8 with 6 foot side walls, a salt box roof and exterior nest boxes. I have a 50" x 63" Pella triple casement window that I want to put in the south wall. Will that be too much window for the coop? Summer sun will not be a problem as I have a 9 foot grape and blackberry arbor situated to shade it in the summer but with let the sun in for winter. It will also have a 20" x 30" double hung on the west side that is shaded year round. There will be eve vents and an operable copula that can be closed in the winter if needed.

 

[azygous]

I was installing new windows in my garage and I thought to use the old one for the coop, which I was adding onto at the time. It was the best thing I ever thought of.

The sun comes in and warms the sand I have in there for bedding, and the chickens adore sunbathing there. The window virtually is the outside wall of the coop, and it's perfect. It also helps bring in more light at roosting time, making it easier for the chickens to see what they're doing.

I also employed five full length glass doors in my run as wind breaks. These allow sun to come in and warm the run in winter and it really helps moderate the temps.

I don't think you can have "too many windows".

 

[Ronbart]

Thank you for the info. I never thought about the sand being thermal mass. How deep is the sand in your coop and is the floor insulated?

 

[azygous]

I have about four inches of sand in the coops, and the floor isn't insulated.

 

[aart]

There will be eve vents and an operable copula that can be closed in the winter if needed.

These you'll probably want open year round.

Climate can make a big difference...
....putting your general geographical location in your profile can garner better answers/suggestions.

I used old double glazed panels from slider windows, some were already cleated into existing shed where coop is built and I made some of those top hinged. Used a couple more as a permanent 'foyer' wind block for the pop door. Use yet a couple more as a winter wind blocks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree, knowing where you are so we would know climate could help responding to this post.

Are you sure that arbor will actually shade it as the sun moves around in summer? I tried something like that for another purpose and did not get it situated quite right. The sun was too high overhead so the shade did not reach during the heat of the day. Some of us like darker coops, some prefer brightly lit coops. Both work. As long as the coop doesn’t turn into a greenhouse in summer it should not matter to the chickens.

A cupola open in winter should provide great ventilation, especially along with those eve vents. Again, knowing your general location could help, but your goal in winter is not to keep the coop warm. Your goal is to have a well-ventilated coop that provides good breeze protection when they are on the roost and that stays dry. Sounds like you have that covered. It doesn’t hurt for the sun to come in and keep the coop warmer, but your chickens don’t need it. With their down coat that can keep themselves perfectly warm as long as a breeze isn’t hitting them and they should not get frostbite with good ventilation. Lack of ventilation keeps moisture in that can lead to frostbite.

 

[aart]

Are you sure that arbor will actually shade it as the sun moves around in summer? I tried something like that for another purpose and did not get it situated quite right. The sun was too high overhead so the shade did not reach during the heat of the day.

Was just coming back to address this.....placement and also rate of growth could affect efficacy. Spring and fall could make too much heat in coop.

 

[DIGGIN CHICKEN]

Id put river sand in the bottom ...water will drain away much easier instead of creating a mud bath ... for thermal mass ... heard soda bottles of water do a great job too

 

[Ronbart]

I appreciate all the in put. I am in the Kansas City area. The arbor is 4+ years old and well established. With the arbor and a tulip poplar tree, the coop will be shaded through hot weather but have dappled sun exposure in the winter. The run will be situated to have full sun and shade exposure all year long. I plan to put sand in the run. I don't have electricity available to the coop. My thoughts on the window was for winter light and some passive solar heating. I grew up in South Dakota and our chickens were in a converted hog barn with no heat and had no problems but there were a lot of birds in there to generate heat. I am only allowed 10 birds total but will only have 4 to 6 chickens. My wife is already talking about ducks on the other side of the property.