Hi, Im new to keeping chickens and have only had my 4 Isa Warrens for 3 weeks. What i would like to know is, do i need to insulate the coop over winter. I am and Scotland and our winters are not to severe, probably reaching -4/5 degrees at most overnight. Dont know if its down to climate change or not but our winters now appear to be more windy and rainy. If i do need to insulate, how's best to do it.
Are you talking Celsius or Fahrenheit? If it is C, don't worry about insulation. The main thing is to keep the coop dry, well ventilated, but draft-free where the chickens roost. Have you read Pat's Ventilation Page? https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-VENTILATION If it is F, you might want to consider it, especially as it is wet and windy. There are a lot of different ways to do it. It might help if we knew something about your coop to make suggestions.
Those are C temps? It'd be kinda worth insulating, as you will have greater problems with cold than people in less-humid conditions. If you think you might ever have to run a lamp for heat then it is definitiely worth insulating as it'll save you money That said, you certainly do not NEED to insulate for -5 C even in a damp climate. It is more a comfort, convenience, and margin-for-error thing. The simplest thing is to put up fiberglass (etc) batts, or rigid foamboard insulation panels, and cover them with thin plywood or whatever other peckproof stuff you have lying around. Good luck, have fun, Pat
I agree, it makes the coop cooler in summer too. here's one way to do it, keeping in mind that you need vents above to get the moisture out. https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=7693-Coop_Insulation We're in New Scotland!
