Do I need to “insulate” this coop for the winter??

[Heihei1923]

From what I know they should be fine as is, but someone in tractor supply asked me if I insulated the coop for winter time... I’m in NJ over here not the arctic so I didn’t think it was necessary. Just wanted some opinions from you guys.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Nope to insulation.
Proper venting, dry bedding and draft protection are far better for nearly everyone keeping chickens than insulation is.

Nice screened doors by the way!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I'm in the Northern hills of Vermont 20 minutes from Canada. No insulation. Top vents in coop.

 

[aart]

Ditto the no insulation......
...but might want to remove the blocking from between the rafters,
if you can or drill lots of 2" holes in it,
add a fascia to rafter ends
(looks like you've got room behind drip edge to put a thin piece of plywood up),
and cover with HC. For better winter ventilation.

Something like this:

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I'd just put a small gable vent on each end or drill two inch hole each gable and cover with hardware cloth. Crack window on side, literally a crack. That would pull in fresh air that would flow up and out the gable vents each side.

This pushes the moisture in coop outside. No moisture means no frost on birds. That's all you are attempting to do; keep coop dry so birds don't get frostbite from moisture. If hens combs look like they are getting touch of frost, black on tips, then make vent openings larger.

 

[Heihei1923]

Nope to insulation.
Proper venting, dry bedding and draft protection are far better for nearly everyone keeping chickens than insulation is.

Nice screened doors by the way!

Awesome that’s what I figured, and thanks!! Was proud I was able to do that haha

 

[Heihei1923]

I'm in the Northern hills of Vermont 20 minutes from Canada. No insulation. Top vents in coop.

Okay great, and wow yeah we don’t get anywhere near that cold lol It hardly even snows here anymore!

 

[Heihei1923]

Ditto the no insulation......
...but might want to remove the blocking from between the rafters,
if you can or drill lots of 2" holes in it,
add a fascia to rafter ends
(looks like you've got room behind drip edge to put a thin piece of plywood up),
and cover with HC. For better winter ventilation.
View attachment 2373445

Something like this:
View attachment 2373448

That’s funny you recommended that, today I was out there working on it deciding between removing it and drilling out the holes.. probably going to do the holes. Thanks a lot for the reply!

 

[aart]

That’s funny you recommended that, today I was out there working on it deciding between removing it and drilling out the holes.. probably going to do the holes. Thanks a lot for the reply!

Would be better to remove it, but might be impossible depending on how you installed it.

 

[DobieLover]

Would be better to remove it, but might be impossible depending on how you installed it.

An oscillating saw would cut that out.
Staples to the sheathing and up under the roof deck then a piece of 1x4 trim over the staples.