Do You Insulate?

[Egg_newton]

I am just curious. I just purchased my third coop from craigslist. The first one I built we insulated. The second one I bought from craigslist that I use for my silkies is not insulated. So I don't know if I should bother with insulating this one or not. If you live in Indiana or the midwest where you have winters that go below 0, tell me do you insulate?

 

[teach1rusl]

I only have one coop, and it's insulated. Not only does it make me feel more at ease about my chickens, but I sit out there daily for a while "visiting," and it sure makes it more comfortable for me! I'm in south central Indiana, close to Louisville, Ky.

 

[patandchickens]

In my opinion the decision runs something like this:

1- if you live somewhere pretty cold (to 0 F qualifies, although possibly not by *much*) and your coop is reasonably large e.g. 10x10 and up AND is built on a dirt or cement slab floor, insulation gives you a lot of benefit. For example, my 15x40' building, with heavily insulated 6" stud walls and ceiling and a slab floor, does not get below the low +20s F even on nights when the outdoors gets down to like -25 F. (This is with no ventilation open at night, but you can DO that if you have low stocking density and good hygeine).

2- if you are thinking you may want to run a heatlamp or other heating appliance, on a more than very occasional basis, it makes great financial sense to insulate, and a fair bit of safety sense too -- because you will be able to heat for less time and with lower wattage, thus cheaper and safer.

3- if it is a very small (such as tractor or reach-in size) coop, where balancing ventilation and temperature and drafts is awfully difficult in cold winter climates, it is real worthwhile to insulate so you have more freedom to jigger with things and not get it too cold in there (which can be a problem b/c of humidity and drafts...)

4- Otherwise, if you are in a climate where temperatures drop below freezing on a regular basis it is probably never a *mistake* to insulate, and you will get some benefits from it, but you do not HAVE to, it is not a great big deal.

I think your situation probably falls somewhere between #3 and #4.

JMHO,

Pat

 

[Egg_newton]

Yes, this is a pretty small coop. 5x8. No concrete floor. and half of the wall is just barn siding. So, I was thinking I will have to insulate. But, I should have all summer to do it since no birds will be going in until later this spring. Any more people who want to add their two cents would be appreciated.

 

[catdaddy66]

One piece of advice I read recently stated that insulation was an often overlooked part of coop construction that is very good to do if at all possible. Even though I'm a noob I felt strongly enough to insulate my tractor!

 

[joedie]

I'm in SW Indiana. Mine is insulated but also drywalled just because I bought a finished shed. But I think it really makes a difference when its really cold. Maybe just makes me feel better about it I don't know.

 

[bigoakhunter]

In Indiana I would insulate. Keeps them cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Plus winter can be mild or play bad tricks on you. So why not do the proper thing?

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
No, see my BYC page for coop pics. Temperatures here get well below zero at times, the chickens do just fine. But then my coop does have a below ground level dirt floor filled with deep litter which seems to compost and add heat. The rubber tub I use for water in the winter will often not freeze inside the coop even with nighttime temperatures in the teens. When the water does freeze, I just stomp the ice out and refill.

 

[Mahonri]

I wish I would have made mine bigger and insulated it. Especially now because I put in an AC unit for those HOT July and August days.

 

[danielle82]

I have winters down below zero, and my coop is *mostly* insulated. One small half wall isn't. They do great, my Moms chickens are in an uninsulated sheep barn, they get some heat from the sheep (they do a great job of warming it in there it can be -30 outside and the sheep keep it up around 10*F at that point) but she did make sure it is draft free.