Plexiglass window designs

[muircheartaigh]

Hi guys,
Putting out a call for pics of plexiglass window designs. My coop needs some added sunlight and ventilation so looking for designs that involve hardware cloth on the inside of the window frame and a window that is hinged and opens out. I'm a visual learner so the pics would go a long way however, please share any caveats about predator proofing and chicken poop proofing that might save some headache. Thanks so much! Once my coop is finalized i'll post pics in thanks for any and all help provided.

 

[ryeguy]

If you have a Menards near you might consider "barn sash". I never heard of it before I saw it in the window area of the store. Basically they're cheap wooden framed windows. I used two 20''X30'' (something around that size) to replace a window I built myself that turned out to be a disaster. They were only $13,00 a piece.

I just got some cheap hinges to attach them and used some cabinet magnets to keep them sealed tight when I close and then lock them. If you're interested I can take a picture in the morning and post it.

 

[muircheartaigh]

If you have a Menards near you might consider "barn sash". I never heard of it before I saw it in the window area of the store. Basically they're cheap wooden framed windows. I used two 20''X30'' (something around that size) to replace a window I built myself that turned out to be a disaster. They were only $13,00 a piece.

I just got some cheap hinges to attach them and used some cabinet magnets to keep them sealed tight when I close and then lock them. If you're interested I can take a picture in the morning and post it.

Yes, please. Especially the cabinet magnet mechanism so i can get away from latch and screw eyes. Thanks!

 

[conny63malies]

You also could take a look at shed windows. Those are fairly cheap . 25$ and up . They are easy to mount and they slide up and down like regular windows. http://shedwindowsandmore.com/shedwindows.html

 

[4 the Birds]

The big box stores have affordable glass windows that work well. You can nail harware cloth over the inside opening to keep out predators. I use double hung windows since they are cheap and you can usually find them on sale ($20 for a 2' x 4' window). You can go with hinges on a fixed casement window that swings out but you sacrafice a snug fit (may be a concern if you live up north and want to keep out drafts). Another option is to buy an awning window that cranks out. They can be costly. I have bought plexiglass before and made small fixed windows but they do not open. Hope this helps.

This is a crank-out awning window. Nice but expensive for a coop.


I have roof overhangs to keep out vertical rains. These double hung windows are closed in the Winter and during storms in the Summer. The bottom window slides up and locks wherever you want it positioned (plenty of open ventilation on the other side of the coop.... each of these were $20 at Home Depot). I have horse fencing around my windows to keep the goats from busting out the windows.


Hoe this helps!

 

[acemario]

This might be difficult to see, but we just cut a square in the coop, cut a sheet of plexiglass to fit the hole, and connected it with hinges. It remains closed when we connect the little hook on the outside of the window to the little screw circle thing (like the olden day locks).

 

[muircheartaigh]

Screw eyes and latches. I've put them to good use in my coop...haha. Nothing wrong with the K.I.S.S. method.

 

[acemario]

Screw eyes and latches. I've put them to good use in my coop...haha. Nothing wrong with the K.I.S.S. method.

Haha! Yes. Screw eyes and latches yup! Super simple, but super effective.

 

[JanetS]

This is our coops window. Hardware cloth and patio screen(to keep mosquito's out) on the inside. Window(made with plexiglass) can be closed for rainy or cold days.

 

[ryeguy]

Finally got some pictures for you. I got the windows (barn sash) from Menards for $12.00 each. The hinges I had laying around and the cabinet magnets were only a couple of bucks at Lowes. The windows are hinged to the coop frame and I have a 2X4 beam mounted up and down where the two windows meet in the middle.




I think it looks pretty nice and definitely much better than the window I built myself. The eyehole latch at the bottom of the windows is more to keep anything from getting in than the chickens getting out. The cabinet magnets seal it enough that the chickens can't push them open. However, my main reason for putting the cabinet magnets was to get a tight seal. Originally I was just using the eyehole latch and the windows would sag open a bit and let cold air into the coop. The "tray" underneath the window is there because my Border Collie likes to jump up and look at the chickens. I put it there so should could rest her paws on it and not get mud all over the windows. I just haven't gotten around to painting it yet.




This is how I mounded the magnet to the window frame. I actually staggered the magnet on the other window so I could have the windows meet closer together. If the magnets were mounted side by side I would have had the space the windows further apart.




The metal plates the magnets latch to are just drilled into the 2X4 I have running up and down where the windows come together. All in all it was cheap and easy. The hardest part of the whole process was taking the windows apart to paint them. That was more tedious than it was hard though.