Plexiglass Wind Block

[Finnie]

My chicks' coop gets sun from the south on the back side of it, and my chicks like to bask on sunny days. But they don't have any protection from the wind, so I am thinking of attaching a sheet of Plexiglas to block the wind and still let the sun through. I am concerned though, that the sun beaming through the plastic will actually be too hot.

Is it a good idea to use clear plastic as a wind block? I happen to have a piece the right size.

Or I could go get some thick plastic sheeting that is opaque. That would be sort of a compromise between basking in the sun and being in shade.

 

[Percheron chick]

It will work great. I use an old sliding glass door for a small sun room for my chickens.

 

[Cluckies]

My girls love the sun from the south as well, but I wanted to block the wind from the other directions. I use greenhouse panels on the west, east, and north sides of my run (similar to plexiglass). I keep the south side open unless it is snowing or blowing really hard from the south, then I put panels that go about half way up on that side as well. I do have the sides open about 2-3 inches at the top for ventilation (except for the door cover). Here is a couple of photos, may have to click on them to make them bigger to see them. The panels are set in against the hardware cloth and the blocks hold the panels against the hardware cloth so they don't blow around or move at all.

East side

south side, you can see the panels on the west side here

 

[Finnie]

It will work great. I use an old sliding glass door for a small sun room for my chickens.

That is a great idea. We are going to be getting new windows on our house this year. I have been thinking of ideas for using the old ones, maybe to make a greenhouse. Now I can put "chicken sun room" on the list.

 

[Finnie]

My girls love the sun from the south as well, but I wanted to block the wind from the other directions. I use greenhouse panels on the west, east, and north sides of my run (similar to plexiglass). I keep the south side open unless it is snowing or blowing really hard from the south, then I put panels that go about half way up on that side as well. I do have the sides open about 2-3 inches at the top for ventilation (except for the door cover). Here is a couple of photos, may have to click on them to make them bigger to see them. The panels are set in against the hardware cloth and the blocks hold the panels against the hardware cloth so they don't blow around or move at all.

Wow, Cluckies, your coop is really nice! Your blocks to position the plastic panels in place is an excellent idea. Did those greenhouse panels come in the size you needed, or did you have to cut them yourself? They obviously fit exactly right.

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about your coop? It looks really well-built.

Where did you get the plans for it, or did you design it yourself? I am having a hard time finding plans for just the run part. I may have to find plans that have the coop and run as one unit, and then just leave the coop part out and make just wire walls in that space. I'm not sure how easy that would be to do. So I was wondering if your coop plans would be fairly easy to modify that way. Plus it would be nice to know where to look to buy the right plans.

When you attached the hardware cloth, did you "sandwich" it between the wood? When I build my walk in run, I am planning to do that to reinforce the wire, and also so that the edges are covered up and look more finished. (like yours looks)

And then, lol, what is the black stuff you have in that metal dog dish?

Thanks,
Finnie

 

[Cluckies]

Wow, Cluckies, your coop is really nice! Your blocks to position the plastic panels in place is an excellent idea. Did those greenhouse panels come in the size you needed, or did you have to cut them yourself? They obviously fit exactly right.
We cut them with a circular saw. They come in 4x8 sheets

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about your coop? It looks really well-built.

Where did you get the plans for it, or did you design it yourself?
This coop is based off of the Wichita Cabin Coop (also on Facebook are many takes on this) and the Reverse Wichita Cabin Coop and ideas from a few other coops on here as well.
I am having a hard time finding plans for just the run part. I may have to find plans that have the coop and run as one unit, and then just leave the coop part out and make just wire walls in that space. I'm not sure how easy that would be to do. So I was wondering if your coop plans would be fairly easy to modify that way. Plus it would be nice to know where to look to buy the right plans.
The run part is pretty basic and can be modified for however big you want it. 2x6's, 2x4's and hardware cloth.

When you attached the hardware cloth, did you "sandwich" it between the wood? When I build my walk in run, I am planning to do that to reinforce the wire, and also so that the edges are covered up and look more finished. (like yours looks)
Yes, the hardware cloth is sandwiched between 2x4's. If you click on My Coop you can see a photo that shows that better.


And then, lol, what is the black stuff you have in that metal dog dish?
The black stuff is a rubber feed pan I picked up from fleet farm. I put it inside the heated metal dog dish for easy change out. But at below zero I have to take it out and use the straight heated dog dish because it will freeze. I place a 1 gallon bottle filled with sand in the middle of the pan now to keep them from stepping in there and putting their whole face in there. Today I'm hoping to make a platform to lift it up off of the ground. I make changes all the time