Coop Insulation?

[motherclucker06]

We love in Iowa and we get both extremes of weather. Extremely cold (-20s) to extremely hot (90s-low 100s). I have been reading website after website about whether to put insulation in our coop and We can't seem to make a decision. My husband is building the coop and the insulation would be inserted within the frame of the wall so the hens could not get to it. Of course there will be adequate vents and a 18"x24" framed window.
Do we need the insulation? Or would that cause trouble in the summer months?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I personally would insulate, it does make a difference in winter and summer. It's well worth it.

 

[aart]

It can help with both weather extremes,
but also makes a dandy home for rodents and insects.
Also extra expense with having to sheath the inside of the walls,
to keep the birds from eating the insulation.

 

[Howard E]

In your climate, it may help. Purpose of insulation is to retain radiant heat generated by the birds within the coop. Result is it may boost inside temps by as much as 10 to 15 degrees over outside temps, which in addition to the temperature boost, helps move moisture out of the house. Danger from the cold is frostbite and that comes from cold damp conditions and frostbite of combs and waddles kicks in somewhere around 0F to +5F under the right conditions. So the need for insulation begins to kick in somewhere around USDA plant zone 6. Plant zone 5 areas and colder could probably benefit from insulation. Either that or raise cold tolerate birds with small combs and waddles.

BTW, moisture comes from the birds. Their breath, plus moisture in droppings accounts for 90% of it. That has to be vented, so tight houses are NOT want you want.

So it is insulation paired with a controlled level of ventilation to allow warmed, moisture laden air to move out to be replaced by cold dry air, which dries even more as it warms up. NO artificial heat. Heat source is radiant heat from the birds themselves, which is retained by the insulation.

BTW, if you do use insulation, use the hard foam board so rodents don't set up shop within a protected wall in the fiberglass stuff. Perfect setup for them. But birds peck at the hard foam stuff, so it has to be covered on the inside by hard surface like OSB, plywood, etc.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have one coop made in the back end of a barn, we insulted the 3 walls that weren't cinder blocks. My other shed is a pole building. The insulated coop definitely stays warmer even with doors open, and I see no frostbite in any of my bantam in there. In the big shed most roosters have lost all their comb points and some birds have lost toes to frostbite, there's definitely plenty of ventilation out there, so it's a temperature issue more here than a moisture issue. So given the choice I would choose to insulate to prevent frostbite, otherwise you may be tempted to try to heat your coop which in my opinion is never a good thing.

 

[Folly's place]

Consider at least insulating the roof, which is a big help in all weathers. Also, plantings for shade in summer, and a windbreak in winter. I have insulated my coop with fiberglass batts between the walls, and am now tearing must of it out because of rodent issues. Including a rat infestation this winter, very nasty. There are supposedly rodent resistant (?) insulations out there, but I sure don't have them! Mary

 

[thearkenstone]

hi there,im planing to make a coop too and im gona use rockwool at coops walls,roof section and ground too,because its realy good isolating material.Rockwool has so high resistance to fire, pushes water and microorganisms cant do anything to rockwool.Protecting winter cold and summer hot,u can check it from internet too have a nice days

 

[aart]

and im gona use rockwool

Yeah, but...see Howard's post, part of which I have quoted below

BTW, if you do use insulation, use the hard foam board so rodents don't set up shop within a protected wall in the fiberglass stuff. Perfect setup for them