Coop Windows and Doors

As we assessed our spare shed for conversion to a chicken coop, there were a few issues we noted:

• The windows were in tough shape and did not open;

• There was a gap under the door that critters had dug over the years;

• The door was in tough shape, with gaps that could let drafts and mice in; and

• There was not a smaller 'chicken door'.

We started with the windows. They were rotting, the glass was partially painted over, and they were held in place with a handful of nails. They were at least easy to remove.

After taking some measurements and a trip to Menards, the windows were an easy fix. I found single-pane, wood-framed windows that were the same size as the old windows, for a reasonable price. I bought some hinges on clearance from the local hardware store, along with barrel latches and eye hooks. While it took some creative framing to allow the installation of the hinges, a few coats of paint and the windows were installed. The shed is on a concrete foundation, but leans a bit, so the window openings were not square. I cut some stops from a piece of 1x4, tacked them in place, and with some more paint the windows were done. The barrel hinges keep the windows locked closed, and eye hooks allow us to open the windows and hold them open so a breeze does not swing them shut. We will need window screens to keep critters out, but that can be a project for spring.

The hole under the door also turned out to be a relatively easy fix. My initial plan was to dig down a foot or two and pour a concrete step to fill the gap. While digging, I hit a footer for the building that extended across the opening. The original shed builder poured a footer and stem wall for the shed perimeter, but omitted the stem wall from the door location. I used some scrap plywood to build a form on top of the existing footer, mixed three bags of concrete, and shoveled the wet mix into the form.

The completed step mostly took care of the gap beneath the door. The door itself is the remaining problem. That will take a little more work, but the coop is on its way to being sealed for chickens.