Coop insulation ? in the UP of MI

[patandchickens]

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I guess what I was asking is how you are going to attach that other layer of outside panelling if there is foam between it and the studs. I really wouldn't just nail/screw *thru* the rigid foam, as it will work itself loose fairly soon.

As far as the plant light I know it throws off a red light and they are suppose to be able to see better with red and it is suppose to help so they don't pick and it is suppose to make them calmer. Now if that is true I don't know but I didn't think it would hurt to go with better safe then sorry.

Sorry, but they don't 'see better with red'; it's sometimes used when very prolonged lighting is required in confined situations because it makes any blood less conspicuous (under red light, red fluids look black, not red) and thus picking develops/accelerates less. A reddish/pinkish 'plant light' fluorescent tub isn't red enough to camouflage blood, though, and honestly you do NOT need a red light unless you're doing something kind of unusual, which you don't seem to be.

Honest, I'm not trying to pick on you, I am simply trying to help you avoid things you will regret later (which the insulation plans may well be, if I understand them correctly) or which are needless extra expenses (the plant light thing). If you haven't had a chance it might be worth looking through a bunch of peoples' coop pages on this site -- there are really no new ideas under the sun and if you don't see people doing things a certain way there is about a 90% chance, or better, that there's a REASON they don't

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[Sandrachx]

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that is TOO funny! i'm at the library and you cracked me up when i am supposed to be shhhh quiet!

last year, because it was last minute, we put one of those lights you hang from your car hood when working on it inside a metal coffee can and hung it under the roosting poles. they weren't bothered by the light and the can radiated heat up to the roosting poles. it worked great!

this year i have graduated to a brooding lamp which i hang in the corner of the coop close to the entrance/exit door to keep that area a little warmer. with the insulation in the ceiling over the roosting poles, they seem to be doing well.

 

[Sandrachx]

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my dh used to work for a chicken farm in his youth (3,000 chickens at a time!). he said they used the red lights because the hens couldn't see well and they couldn't see the workers as they worked in the coops at night (collecting chickens for slaughter). i am using a red light for warmth and my girls don't really know i am in the coop when i check on them at night.

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

I recomend the red light for warmth at night if you are in an area that gets below freezing at night. It is true, that birds will survive cold temps, however I have noticed that cold birds aften lay fewer eggs, and studies have confirmed this. The red light also lets me peek in and do a head count every night with a minnimum of disturbance. If you dont need the heat, a regular red bulb will accomplish the same goals.

We also use a clear heat bulb during the winter to brighten thier coop, and increase thier light hours. 14 hours of light keeps production up, it also helps wet birds dry more quickly. I often see our polish birds just spend a cold wet nasty day inside the coop! They are no dummies! But this is a luxury, not a neccesity

Good Luck!

 

[patandchickens]

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A red *fluorescent* light doesn't provide any meaningful heat though.


Pat

 

[Zookeeper9000]

I am not in any way feeling picked on. I have never built from ground up and so any help is welcomed.

I am not sure about the pink foam and how it is supose to be attached I will talk to the daughter's boyfriend and see what he says about it as he is the builder (builds houses and does mason work for a living). I am just trying to have an idea of what I should do for the coop as he has never built one either.

I will take some more time to give a look at the coop threads. I have looked at a lot of them but with funding limited and my chicks at steak I wanted to be sure I did it right for my area as mistakes can be costly. I am not always sure what state has what weather. Thanks again for all your help.

 

[FrChuckW]

If you are going to insulate your coop, the insulation should be inside the coop not outside. The idea of using the house wrap before placing the outside sheathing on is a good idea as it will cut down on air leaks. If you do insulate, then on the inside use the laminated panels used for bathrooms. Use a good caulk sealant for the seams and corners and cover those with plastic corner and joint strips. This will prevent the chickens from pecking at the sealant. It will also make cleaning the walls much easier.

For ventilation you can get those small vents and place near the floor but above the litter level, and you can use ridge vents for the top if you have a V shaped roof. If you have a sloping flat roof you can use eave vents. Make sure that any vents are covered by either metal screening or 1/4 inch hardware cloth. This will keep most vermin out of the coop.

Hope this helps.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

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Yes thank you it does.