I'm a new chicken owner (just got six 2-week old chicks) and am just about to start building my first coop, so forgive my ignorance. I live in SW Washington, near Vancouver. I have seen temperatures as low as +15 in the winter, but that is rare. +25 is more typical for the coldest winter day. Do I need to insulate and provide heat for my girls, or will building a draft-free coop suffice in this climate? Thanks for the help in advance!
It is a personal choice to insulate. The key is to be well ventilated with no drafts. The temp got as low as -25 here in oklahoma and I have a 20x30 uninsulated coop and I had 35 birds in there. The temp was around 0 to -5 at night in the coop. The hardest thing was keeping the water from freezing. I have heated waterers that work really well but they froze a few nights. I did loose one to frostbite on there feet. My plan is to build a room that is like 10x20 that is insulated just in case it gets that cold again. Usually chickens should be fine in 25 degree weather. Nate
