A common question that has many misconceptions and myths surrounding the subject is; do chicken coops need windows? The short answer is yes, chicken coops should have windows.
In this article we’ll be discussing the advantages of having windows, the implications that can occur when there not present, discussing myths about how light affects hens and we’ll give you some information on different coops perfect for the job. If any of that sounds interesting then stick around for a few more minutes and continue reading.
Why have windows
As mentioned above, we’d defiantly advise that if possible windows should be integrated into your chicken coop. Having them brings many benefits such as an increase in light, warmth, ventilation, and helps keep the chicken’s body clock in perfectly intact.
Windows keep everything well ventilated which can be an overlooked trait however is extremely important. If the hens were locked in an enclosure with no ventilation it could prove to be detrimental to their health. As nasty as it sounds when chicken droppings accumulate they release harmful gasses, with no ventilation to help keep everything fresh the chickens may be breathing in ammonia. If the air becomes too toxic it could be extremely harmful to the birds, something defiantly worth avoiding.
This is why cleaning your coop regularly is also essential, we’d recommend at least once a week if you want to maintain a good level of hygiene within your coop. However, we understand some coops can be hard to clean, and although it is possible having a chicken coop that’s easy to clean will make your life easier. If you want more information on this subject then check out one of our other articles on the best chicken coops for cleaning.
Not to mention windows also give you easy access which is definitely another useful feature to have when trying to keep your coop clean or even collect your hen’s eggs.
Windows in your coops will also increase sunlight exposure, this can be very beneficial for the birds as sunlight is essential if you want to obtain high egg production form your flock. The more sunlight your hens are exposed to the better, this is often why battery hens are often exposed to 16 hours plus of light every day. Having good sized windows play a similar sort of role.
Having windows also mean the hens know when to wake up and go to sleep, it keeps their body clocks in sync and is another advantage of having windows, ultimately this should help keep the hens happy and healthy long term.
Implications of not having windows
We’d always advise you to allow for some sort of light/ventilation in your chicken coops, it can help prevent lots of issues you don’t want to be dealing with, here a few common examples of what can happen if your chicken coop doesn’t have windows.
Without ventilation, harmful gasses from the chicken’s droppings won’t be able to escape, this could be detrimental to their health.
Windows allow for easy cleaning, take them away and there are higher chances of having a dirty coop which can lead to illness among the flock.
Without windows there may be a decline in the amount of light your hens get, as they need lots to generate eggs continuously, you may notice a dip in egg production.
The windows ensure the hen’s body clock stays in sync with the time, without windows they may alter their sleeping patterns leading to confused birds that aren’t as happy.
Let’s talk myths
We’ve heard lots of so called tips and tricks for getting your hen’s to lay more, half of which were completely false and had no scientific evidence behind them what so ever, here are some of the common misconceptions that people tend to sometimes have regarding this aspect of keeping hens.
The most common myth we found that was associated with the subject of windows was chickens need darkness to lay eggs and they predominantly lay during the night!
If you’ve got hens then you’ll know chickens usually lay eggs in the morning, even though their laying may shift slightly it’s very rare that a hen would be laying in the middle of the night.
Furthermore hens can lay in dark or light environments, it won’t make a difference, if they need to lay, they will. You don’t need to provide them with a darkened laying box or dark laying area. We’ve heard countless times that hens need to be in dark environments to lay effectively, unfortunately, that’s far from the truth.
What’s on the market
Now all that stuffs out the way here’s a coop we found to be perfect for maintaining a bright and well ventilated environment. You can also check out our coops page where we’ve got lots more info on different coops on the market at different price points, here’s a link to that, easyhens coops page.
Kerbl Hen House
The Kerbl hen house is a great option if you’re looking to keep up to 6 hens comfortably, its quality design and finishing make it perfect for any garden. The aesthetics of the coop are another one of the attributes that clearly stand out from the competition, the sleek yet practical design means it’ll compliment your outdoor space instead of cluttering it.
This coop comes with easy to open sliding doors making locking up your hens for the night simple and easy, not to mention the 2 story design allows you to house more hens in a smaller space, ideal for if you want your coop to be tucked away in the corner of the garden.
The weather proof bitumen roof and strong construction of the enclosure mean its a one time purchase that should last you many years. The total of 6 doors which are integrated into the coop are all lockable, ideal for keeping your safe from potential predictors such as foxes. If you want to know more about that, then head over to one of our other articles where we go into more depth surrounding this subject; how to protect my hens from foxes.
The general purpose of this coop is to house multiple chickens whilst keeping them safe and secure, the coops general excellent built quality and long list of features such as the 6 laying boxes, wooden perches, and plastic coated dirt tray make it a desirable chicken coop. The large access points and windows ensure your hens get plenty of that essential sunlight, helping get the most out of your eggs in terms of egg production.
If your in the market for a new chicken enclose or just want to give your current one an upgrade, we’d defiantly recommend you check out this fantastic coop.
Advantages
- Desirable appearance
- Lots of windows
- Extremely practical, multiple doors allow for easy access which significantly helps when cleaning
- Designed with good quality materials
- Long lasting
- Great for housing 6 or more hens comfortably
Disadvantages
- Slightly pricy however defiantly understandable when taking a look at the immaculate wood used for its construction
Conclusion
All in all, it’s fair to say having a chicken coop with windows is much better than having one without, hopefully, this article has clarified some facts around the subject of windows. If you found this article useful then feel free to check out some of our others @easyhens.com
David Cameron is a passionate chicken enthusiast. Growing up, he always wanted to be a veterinarian and loved animals. After graduating from veterinary school, David spent over 40 years as an equine veterinarian. He and his wife retired a few years ago and moved to North Carolina. Here, David’s love of chickens grew even more – he now has 7 chickens and 6 quail. If you have any questions about chickens, feel free to reach out.