Building a Coop in Vermont, Do Not want to run electricity for heat, Can I do this?

[Joyschickens]

Insulation in a coop, is a waste of time and money. A coop is not like your house, where it's totally closed up in the winter. It's open/ventilated to the outside (At least. it's supposed to be) What good does insulation do, in an OPEN BUILDING? Answer, absolutely no good at all. The chickens already come equipped with perfect insulation of their own, they really don't need any help from us to keep warm. With insulation, you will need interior walls. Otherwise the birds will happily shred the insulation. When you have interior walls, in a coop, you have just provided perfect housing for rodents, inset pests, and who knows what else. There was a post on this forum just last year, where somebody had insulation and interior walls in their coop. Well, they ended up with one heck of a rat problem. Do not bother with insulation, chickens have managed to survive for hundreds of years without it, and they will go on for hundreds of years more.

Very good point - hmmm - rethinking the insulation.

 

[jthornton]

Insulation in a coop, is a waste of time and money. A coop is not like your house, where it's totally closed up in the winter. It's open/ventilated to the outside (At least. it's supposed to be) What good does insulation do, in an OPEN BUILDING? Answer, absolutely no good at all. The chickens already come equipped with perfect insulation of their own, they really don't need any help from us to keep warm. With insulation, you will need interior walls. Otherwise the birds will happily shred the insulation. When you have interior walls, in a coop, you have just provided perfect housing for rodents, insect pests, and who knows what else. There was a post on this forum just last year, where somebody had insulation and interior walls in their coop. Well, they ended up with one heck of a rat problem. Do not bother with insulation, chickens have managed to survive for hundreds of years without it, and they will go on for hundreds of years more.

If you have a tin roof it should be insulated to stop condensation from forming...

JT

 

[bruceha2000]

Good morning Vermonters! We are starting our chicken coop planning - very new to raising chickens - we would love to hear from you about coop design, planning for 6 chicks in late April. Building our own coop. Thoughts on predator proofing? Preventing frozen water for the chickens? Free ranging - is it safe? We have a fox that frequents our property - 10 acres some field some woods, as well as owls, hawks, raccoons, and not too long ago a fisher cat was in our neighbors yard, etc you know how it is.
Our plan so far: raised coop,hardware cloth,electric fence,run and coop share the same roof line (run will be covered). Thanks in advance, nice to have warmer temps this weekend! Best, Joy

There are plenty of threads on coops, winter water and predator proofing. You could read for a month! As Jack said, forget the insulation. The birds need ventilation, probably more important up here in the cold north in the winter than in the summer. Ventilation removes excess humidity and ammonia (from the chicken poop) ... and any heat.

My PERSONAL opinion - unless you have limited space and need the area under the coop for additional run area - why build an elevated coop? You've already said the run will be covered so you don't need it for shade. Build something you can walk into for ease of maintenance and roost height. You don't necessarily need to build a floor, just make sure no predators (including SMALL weasels!) can get up into the coop from underground. No need for a ramp. Also, 6 chicks THIS spring, size the coop for chicken math. And build it big enough that you have storage for feed, treats, shavings. I don't know how extensive a build you want but I would check out Jack's Wood's Style coop thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/woods-style-house-in-the-winter.445004/

Run electricity (PROPERLY!) to the coop if possible, it will make life a lot easier. First to keep the water from freezing, second for the Mama Heating Pad brooder
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/

When you put the 1/2" hardware cloth over every opening, use poultry/fence staples NOT Arrow staple gun type staples (other than for positioning), or use wood battens and screws. Some people have used screws and fender washers but that can get expensive (though one guy flattened out beer bottle caps. No cost for the "washers" if you are going to buy the beer anyway).

Free ranging is safe if you don't have any predators out at the same time You have to evaluate your particular area and see what perimeter fencing you might want to put up to make it harder for the predators to get close to where the birds free range.

 

[bruceha2000]

If you have a tin roof it should be insulated to stop condensation from forming...

Perhaps but wouldn't condensation suggest a lack of adequate ventilation? I would think insulating a metal roof would be more useful for keeping the coop from turning into a furnace in the summer sun.

 

[jthornton]

Perhaps but wouldn't condensation suggest a lack of adequate ventilation? I would think insulating a metal roof would be more useful for keeping the coop from turning into a furnace in the summer sun.

Nope, my metal carport roof rains inside on some days when the conditions are right and it has no sides just a roof!

JT

 

[Molpet]

Perhaps but wouldn't condensation suggest a lack of adequate ventilation? I would think insulating a metal roof would be more useful for keeping the coop from turning into a furnace in the summer sun.

I have an old aluminum truck cap sitting on saw horses... I get condensation raining too

 

[Folly's place]

Insulating the roof is more useful in summer unless you have good shade there. It's more about overheating in summer than cold in winter! As everyone already said, build large, well ventilated, and predator proof.
Mary

 

[bruceha2000]

Nope, my metal carport roof rains inside on some days when the conditions are right and it has no sides just a roof!

 

[aart]

What good does insulation do, in an OPEN BUILDING?

Can help with heat gain in full sun situations.

If you have a tin roof it should be insulated to stop condensation from forming...

Yep.

Nope, my metal carport roof rains inside on some days when the conditions are right and it has no sides just a roof!

Helll, I had condensation on the underside of a north facing wood and shingle roof during a Jan. thaw...there was a foot of snow up there, and the ambient humidity was 95%.

 

[jthornton]

Helll, I had condensation on the underside of a north facing wood and shingle roof during a Jan. thaw...there was a foot of snow up there, and the ambient humidity was 95%.

Now that is extreme condensation conditions for sure.

JT