OSTRIVE CHICKEN COOP SLIDER WINDOWS
We chose to use framing pieces to hold the windows into place, sandwiched in so to speak. To avoid the cracks you can slowly predrill holes. The acrylic is prone to cracking when drilled into. Installing the plexiglass windows can be tricky. They will find the sunny spot and enjoy for years to come. You get the benefit of natural light to heat your coop and the ladies will never know they do not have glass windows. The plexiglass is stronger than single pane glass and still allows for heat conduction and light filtration. We chose to use a plexiglass for the windows in the coop. This also should deter our chickens from easily pecking at the window causing scratches. We chose to place the window at 3 feet from the floor of the coop, hoping that it will give an angle to the sunlight coming in that will cover the most ground with the beams of sun. Our coop is only 5 feet in height, so that limits the amount of wall space for windows. This larger door faces North East and gets a good amount of late morning and afternoon sun. Our coop has a small door that is just for the flock to come and go and a large one that aids in my being able to clean out the coop and get to all the fun nook and crannies to find eggs. We decided to add the window to the large coop door. Picking window placement can be hard in an already constructed coop. They are still great for ventilation and helping with a cross breeze in the warm months, but natural light they are not. In fact, they barely captured any sun at all. Our windows that were placed with the utmost planning and care were no longer east facing. But, then we moved and the coop moved too.
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Our chickens seemed to lay longer into the winter months as they had lots of natural light. They bathed the coop in sunlight until well into the afternoon. When we built our coop, we put windows that slide open on the east side of the coop to take advantage of the morning sun. Like a cat, a chicken will find the beam of light coming through a window and warm themselves or decide it is a perfect place for a dust bath. Windows are an important part of a coop, in my opinion. Instead, we try to utilize the light of the sun. Some people will use artificial lights to encourage winter laying. Energy and light are needed for egg production and will naturally slow in the winter months. You may have noticed that your chickens have slowed down or stopped laying.
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I imagine they fill the thoughts of most people on a cold snowy day.
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Dreams of beach days, flip flops and warm breezes fill my thoughts. Often, the skies are grey and snow filled and all I want to do is feel the warm sun on my face. Winter, the season of short days and long nights.