First time chicken Mama. The big question is about insulation, will my chickens die, or not lay anymore.?

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens so do they have a done coop?
Birds will be fine they eat worse than that

 

[drumstick diva]

Styrofoam is chicken crack!! They love it and don't seem to suffer from eating it.

 

[tribalacres]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[N F C]

The other greeters have given you good information so all I'll add is, you can't trust chickens to know what is good or bad for them (they're like toddlers).

I am curious about where in the world you are located? I'm in Wyoming, the land of 6 month winters, and don't have an insulated coop.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. I agree with everything that has been suggested.

 

[orloffer]

Welcome to BYC! There is so much to see, do, and learn here!

 

[Birdinhand]

I played with adding insulation to our coop to see if it would improve the feed to egg ratio during the winter. immediately the chickens would contort into any necessary position to get at any insulation that wasn't covered up, I had to cover every bit of it up or they would go at it with great persistence. it hasn't seemed to help that much. my conclusion is that ventilation, wind break and light are the three major keys to health and egg laying production. in the winter I use a 60W equivalent or greater LED bulb to keep them laying. they still stop to molt, but then get right back to laying. I have it on a timer to start a bit early while it's still dark, and to go a bit into the night. seems like 13-14 hours of total light per day is adequate to keep them laying while giving them plenty of rest. int he summertime, we get long days so there is no need for supplemental light.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[Mountaintop Homestead]

View attachment 2345008

Thanks! It's just sheets of foam insulation.

 

[TwoCrows]

Thanks! It's just sheets of foam insulation.

How are they doing today?