window placement

[kml]

We're new to the "chicken parenting" world, having adopted three adorable chickens a few weeks ago from friends who moved. We don't particularly like the coop they gave us so we're looking into building a larger one for the chickens, and I've been scouring BackYardChickens.com for advice. We're leaning toward having a large window on the south side of the coop that would essentially cover most of the wall (we'd use it as a door), but I'm worried that the chickens will get more ambient light in that direction during the night because that window faces out toward a street light that's a hundred yards or so away. It would also face a neighbor's house that has a motion sensing light that sometimes goes off. Should I be worried about this? I know chickens don't have the best night vision, so I'm thinking that it won't bother them too much. But perhaps I need to take the possibility of ambient light more seriously. Thoughts?

PS - The coop will be in a shady location and the window will be removable, so I don't foresee the south-facing placement to be a problem heat-wise in the summer.

 

[aart]

Human night lights can disturb the birds....but not always.
How's that for vague?
Problem is that a lot of the answers to questions about chickens and their housing starts with 'depends'. this might depend on just how brightly is light up the coop..

We're leaning toward having a large window on the south side of the coop that would essentially cover most of the wall (we'd use it as a door)

I'm most curious about how big this window/door is.
Got pics or plans?

Oh, and... Welcome to BYC! @kml
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[kml]

Thanks! I just added my location. We're in the foothills of Colorado, so we can get some cold temperatures but it's usually not too bad. We're planning a 3' x 5' coop that will be elevated ~2.5' off the ground. We'll have one door covering most of one 3' side (the side facing south) and that's what I'm thinking will be mostly window (something like this with an extra frame around the outside: https://www.menards.com/main/doors-...single-pane-glass/bsw2241/p-1444449412163.htm). Friends of ours in town did something similar with their coop and they say that their chickens love having a big window facing south in the winter on cold days.

 

[kml]

I'm now leaning toward having a smaller window built into the front door, and that would let less light in from the south. I don't want to have the chickens unable to sleep because of too much light. So feel free to disregard my original question!

 

[aart]

So feel free to disregard my original question!

That's OK...this is a good place to 'think things thru'
Sketch it out on graph paper....in erasable pencil.
Much easier to make design changes on paper than in lumber and labor.