what's the best side for a window? Major considerations?

[Youneek Farm]

OK, I have an old rehabed rabbit hutch turned hen house and I'm planning to renovate it this summer. I have one large window I'm going to install but I wanted to know if there are certain considerations I need to think about before planning where. The most convenient spot would be North facing or West facing but not sure if that's best.

Advice?

 

[Judy]

where do you live?

 

[pips&peeps]

The best sides for windows, in my opinion, are East or North.

East gets the morning sun which is not too hot.

 

[ducks4you]

Youneek Farm

If you live in a temperate zone, and only have ONE side of your coop with a window, make it face SOUTH. During the winter your birds will get sunshine when the sun sits lower on the horizon, and during the summer you'll get a breeze. ALL livestock shelters in temperature zone face either SOUTH or EAST, so that the winter winds are blocked. MY new zoop will face south, as well.

If you live in a sub-tropical zone, you'll want that window facing NORTH. Your winters are mild, but the summer will fry your chickies if they get full sun. THIS will give them some shade and a good breeze.

Hope this helps!

 

[Youneek Farm]

Thanks to all. We do live in missouri so humid summers and cold winters. Our hens stay in the hen house til about 7:30 am, in the coop until noon and then free range the rest of the day. If I have the window on the East, they would get the morning sun I guess. They don't have to stay in there long on summer days as they can leave but it does get quite cold in the winter and there is no electricity out there. Heat in the winter would be good.

So do I go for morning sun or winter heat?

 

[Sammimom]

We are in the NW, and in our experience the south and west sides get too much heat, so our coop windows (plexiglass) are on the east and north side, with a shuttered "window" of hardware cloth (really big vent) on the west side. In the winter, we can put some clear plastic on part of this and open it up for sun, but in the summer it is propped open for ventilation but still gets shade. No openings at all on the south side, we in fact had to block the south side of our rabbit hutch with shiny insulation in a roll to keep them sufficiantly cool.

 

[Monk]

I have my window facing south to take advantage of solar heat in the winters.

 

[ducks4you]

Check out this link before you build:
http://www.nortoncreekpress.com/fresh-air-poultry-houses2.html
VERY illuminating.

 

[animal nut]

Quote:
I agree we live in Ohio......south facing window. Also if you research anything solar they will tell you face it south.