CHICKEN CASTLE UNDER CONSTRUCTION...

[ZachyWachy]

If you really want to make something warm for winter, just connect the coop to the house, with like a hallway going to the coop, then you would be completly warm in winter. However, you would either want the coop to be close, or have an extra couple hundred dollars flying around.

 

[Flock In Texas]

Raising the coop would make it harder to keep warm inside. It's great for Texas, but I don't know about Canada. I'd not worry too much about insulation until you get to the individual sections. That way you can concentrate on keeping those warm and leave the rest of the coop as a place to go if they get too warm and get food and water. You will have to keep it above freezing, but not as warm as nests.

Put some roosts up high. Heat rises and they will enjoy it most of the year. Maybe you can put a "poop tray" under the roosts, but on top of the nesting boxes. Leave room to walk for maintenance and visits. I put my roosts along the walls, but about a foot away so they can walk.

If you are going to have power to it, I'd suggest a small radio. I leave mine on talk radio. The voices may make predators think twice about approaching if they hear voices. Maybe the chickens will be more conservative and have a better egg laying ethic.

 

[aart]

Raising the coop would make it harder to keep warm inside. It's great for Texas, but I don't know about Canada. I'd not worry too much about insulation until you get to the individual sections. That way you can concentrate on keeping those warm and leave the rest of the coop as a place to go if they get too warm and get food and water. You will have to keep it above freezing, but not as warm as nests.

Put some roosts up high. Heat rises and they will enjoy it most of the year.

The adequate ventilation needed all year round makes this moot.

My raised coop has an insulated floor, was in shed when I bought the place, which is beneficial.
Any other insulation against cold is really not needed and can create habitation for pests.

Need power in cold climes to keep water thawed,
and maybe nests if you can't gather eggs frequently,
but no other heat is really needed and can actually be detrimental.