Do i put insulation in the coop?

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
Your dad is correct if your coop doesn't have windows or if you know you won't be using any heating devices. But if you do have windows, then passive heat does build up - as I mentioned earlier, my windows do allow heat to build up inside my coop - as high as around 40 degrees, and it does last well into the evening.
As long as your coop is draft free w/well placed ventilation, your birds will do okay through the winter - lots of fluffy bedding, windbreaks, etc. can help a lot

Your biggest challenge will be keep your birds in liquid water all winter...

 

[babyrnlc]

Fred's Hens :

Keeping one's coop in the 30's and 40's in the winter is a choice some folks make.

We choose not to. Instead, we keep hardy birds. Chickens have been domesticated for 3000+ years and kept in cold climates for most of that time. Our American forebears bred most of the popular breeds we enjoy today in New England, Ohio and Upstate New York without the benefit of electricity or insulation.

It's a choice. Your uncle has obviously kept chickens without insulation/heat and he gave you his experienced opinion.

I agree! We did not insulate and we do not heat in the winter (I do have to go break up the ice off the water from inside the coop. My chickens laid every day through a blizzard! The eggs were cracked open frozen, but they did not miss a beat. They actually would go out and play in the snow. They seem to hate the heat more. We have been over a hundred all summer it seems (freak heat wave) and all I do is keep fresh water out there and hose the coop down once a day. They are still laying! Out of 8 layers, we got 7 eggs yesterday. We drop down to 6 occationally!​

 

[karlamaria]

Winters are long here, no way do I want frozen combs, and i also do not believe poor chickens need to be in some thin coop during below zero temps with out at least good insulated coops.

 

[Wyogirl]

Ours is insulated, and am glad we did. WY winters are harsh and I want my chickens to be comfy. Now it's HOT 90's and our coop stays cool due to our insulation, so it works both ways. What ever you decide will be

Ayda

 

[FiascoFarmer]

Quote:
Your dad is correct if your coop doesn't have windows or if you know you won't be using any heating devices. But if you do have windows, then passive heat does build up - as I mentioned earlier, my windows do allow heat to build up inside my coop - as high as around 40 degrees, and it does last well into the evening.
As long as your coop is draft free w/well placed ventilation, your birds will do okay through the winter - lots of fluffy bedding, windbreaks, etc. can help a lot

Your biggest challenge will be keep your birds in liquid water all winter...

@ragerkid2... Your dad is incorrect on the "no heat" aspect. The chickens themselves are a great source of heat. Now this of course depends on how many chickens you have... the cubic feet of the coop... sun exposure... wind breaking from local trees and vegetation.... paint color of the coop... etc... But as a general, all things being equal kind of thing, most creatures emit heat as a normal function of body heat regulation. This expelled heat goes into their atmosphere and if in a weather-tight coop should be, at least partially, retained. That being said, the addition or lack of insulation will play a huge role in how well it is retained. If the wall are freezing cold it will exchange out that heat and the coop will get cold. Insulation's main job in to protect from heat/cold transfer through those exterior surfaces. This is why right now it is 90 degrees outside and in my barn it is 68 degrees. Obviously my barn is insulated, not even that well yet, but man it makes a huge difference. Last year my barn would match the outside temps with an hour lag between. Now if kept shut it will stay cool all day long.

Most of my reference on this subject comes from experience, but I was also a builder for a time and worked in insulation as well and learned the theory of heat/cold transfer in that.

Now all of that being said... Depending on the breed of bird and its cold and heat hardiness, this can all be an exercise in futility. For those saying it doesn't matter, they are right and wrong. Does insulation work? Yes. Is it necessary? In most cases, No. Is it necessary where I live, with my breed of birds? No. Did I still do it anyway? Yes. I want to give my bird the absolute best living conditions possible. They provide me and my family with the best quality food and I feel I owe it to them to give them the best quality life I can. Does this make me a little crazy? Probably. Do I care? H@#L NO!

I apologize for the incredibly long-winded response, but I felt it important to give you all the facts as well as my thoughts on the matter. Hope this helps.

 

[hispoptart]

This is my coop, I am not nearly as creative as most of you here so I just bought this one. I plan to add an extended run to it, but for now I allow them some free range time so they can stretch. The walls are made from a very thin wood. I was thinking of adding a 2 inch thick foam board insulation to the outside of it for the winter. It will get as cold as 20 - 30 below here. Do you think that would be enough, or will I need a heat lamp also. BTW I have 4 chickens.