Helpful hints for building coops

[Three Stents]

You really don't need insulation in coops, you need soffits or other ways to get more fresh air in. Chickens wear feather jackets.

Insulation is more about helpiong with the heat during those extremley hot summer days. It also helps with the cold during those frigid days. Why is your house insulated?

 

[Molpet]

Why is your house insulated?

Because I have a furnace and air conditioner that doesn't use as much energy if it's insulated.
My coops are open on the south side for ventilation.

 

[jvls1942]

28f for a high. has to be careful or it might get above freezing.
i insulated my 12 x 16 ft coop just because i wanted to panel the walls. i have no objections for adding some heat. i used a small electric heater with a fan. i blew it directly at the 5gal water. it kept the water from freezing and didn't really heat the coop very much at 20 below zero. i plugged the heater into a heat cube. it wouldn't let the coop to warm above 4oF.

 

[fuzzi]

Because I have a furnace and air conditioner that doesn't use as much energy if it's insulated.
My coops are open on the south side for ventilation.

And I have read about mice nesting in coop insulation, ew.

@Three Stents if you insulate the coop it can raise the humidity, and when that's high your chickens are more prone to frostbite, too.

 

[Three Stents]

And I have read about mice nesting in coop insulation, ew.

@Three Stents if you insulate the coop it can raise the humidity, and when that's high your chickens are more prone to frostbite, too.

mice will nest in insulation if it is not properly covered. And if you have proper/adequate ventilation, insulation does not increase humidity......

 

[Molpet]

mice will nest in insulation if it is not properly covered. And if you have proper/adequate ventilation, insulation does not increase humidity......

Mice chewed holes in the doorframe to get in my house. I put steel wool in the first hole on the latch side inside and out. Then they chewed a hole on the hinge side. I put steel wool in there too. Along with a steel strip on the door.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I know rats can do that, not sure about mice. I've noticed that if there is any rot that softens the wood rodents take advantage of it. I have patched some large holes in my coop and house siding.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Amazing that you two are defending rodents

Defending? I am sharing my experience which backs up @Molpet 's experience with rodents. It's well known that rodents chew through wood (and other materials).

 

[Molpet]

I've noticed that if there is any rot that softens the wood rodents take advantage of it. I have patched some large holes in my coop and house siding.

Yes it's an outside basement door about 70 years old. I have not seen any rats since the 70s. I had a big mouse problem last year when the holes appeared. Sunrise is in an hour and when the wintery mix quits falling I'll take pictures.

 

[Molpet]

we all would love to see a hole thru 3/4" door jamb from a rodent

Outside

Somehow I took a video of the inside. This is a screenshot of the video, if you want I can put the video on YouTube and post a link later.

Inside with steel wool removed , screwdriver for scale