windows on 2 or 3 sides?

[cosmic chicken]

i am now at the stage of cutting plywood for the rear wall of our shed to coop transformation. i had planned on having the rear 7 foot width have the same 2 foot high windows coming down from the roof as the 14 foot right side of the shed. however, the rear backs up to woods and now i am worried doing so would be a proverbial welcome mat to preditors. the windows (chicken wire covered openings) are a little over 4 feet from the ground. the exterior of the walls are covered with galvanized roof panels we scavenged. i wish i could post pics, but this phone is not "smart" so i cannot. thank you for any opinions!

 

[Quinstar]

I don't have an answer for you, but I'm curious what others might think. We are also building our coop and were planning on having windows on all 4 sides. Might have to alter this plan depending on the responses you get.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I've got windows on all 4 sides of my coop but - unless you cover them with hardware cloth and NOT chicken wire - they will be a dining invitation for predators. Chicken wire will keep chickens in but will not keep predators out.

I wanted the light and ventilation that windows afford plus - in my case - the windows were free. But, I knew going in that each one would be secured with 1/2 in. hardware cloth. I have pictures of the windows with the hardware cloth secured on my My Coop page.

The girls seem to like the windows, too, and will walk on the roost in front of them on rainy days when they don't want to go out and get wet.

 

[cosmic chicken]

i would love windows on all 4 sides, but we are in a rental property and are modifying an end of a shed building which already has one complete wall...

i want to build it like fort knox, but do not have the extra income for that much hardware cloth at this moment. i would assume that if you can swing hardware cloth your 4 sides of windows should be fine`. but i am also curious as to what the knowledgeable peeps on here have to say.

 

[Mamahumecky]

i am now at the stage of cutting plywood for the rear wall of our shed to coop transformation. i had planned on having the rear 7 foot width have the same 2 foot high windows coming down from the roof as the 14 foot right side of the shed. however, the rear backs up to woods and now i am worried doing so would be a proverbial welcome mat to preditors. the windows (chicken wire covered openings) are a little over 4 feet from the ground. the exterior of the walls are covered with galvanized roof panels we scavenged. i wish i could post pics, but this phone is not "smart" so i cannot. thank you for any opinions!

what if you criss crossed chicken wire? like vertical and then horizontal layment? that would reduce the size of the holes until you can do hardware cloth or it might be ok without replacing with hardwre cloth?

 

[cosmic chicken]

hmmm... sounds like a good idea!

 

[cosmic chicken]

I've got windows on all 4 sides of my coop but - unless you cover them with hardware cloth and NOT chicken wire - they will be a dining invitation for predators. Chicken wire will keep chickens in but will not keep predators out. 

 
I wanted the light and ventilation that windows afford plus - in my case - the windows were free. But, I knew going in that each one would be secured with 1/2 in. hardware cloth. I have pictures of the windows with the hardware cloth secured on my My Coop page. 

The girls seem to like the windows, too, and will walk on the roost in front of them on rainy days when they don't want to go out and get wet. 

that must be very cool! once i can swing hardware cloth i will have to make a sitting ledge alone a row of windows for mine!

 

[redneckdan]

The problem with chicken wire is the strength. It will not stand up to a raccoon for very long. Hardware cloth is a heavier gauge and stronger wire.