Husband says "why insulate if you're going to have ventilation"

[junko]

First year having chickens when it would snow I would close all the windows in the coop hoping to keep the birds warm. Chickens got horrible frostbite. This year which was record breaking cold I left everything wide open---no frostbite.
The cols doesn't bother chickens. Dampness does.

Curious here, too, how cold did it get in your area? This is very interesting!

 

[missnu01]

Well this year we got down into the negatives. Which is much colder than normal. We usually get into the teens or single digits

 

[subhanalah]

What region do you live in or what are your winter temperatures like?

Curious here, too, how cold did it get in your area?  This is very interesting!

I love in central Oklahoma. This was a pretty mild winter compared to usual, but as others have said, it's lingering around freezing and dampness from melting ice/snow that heightens the risk of frostbite.
I guess we'll find out come winter.

 

[4 the Birds]

Insulation most definitely reduces radiant heat and cold through a roof or wall. You have to make the call as to how much of a benefit you will gain compared to the cost of installation. I used insulated panels for our dog houses (floor, roof, and walls) and they are for sure cooler in the Summer and warmer in the winter than non insulated dog houses.

My coop is not insulated but I did use rigid insulation for the exterior nest boxes.

 

[The Lazy L]

I am building my 4x8 saltbox shaped coop- the tall side is the back and I have two 8x8 vent panels in there, a window on one end that will be screened and can be opened, and I am planning on putting some eave vents in the front of the coop. My husband thinks I shouldn't bother to insulate it since he says any heat will just escape out the vents. I say of course you need insulation! What say you? We are in RI and it sometimes gets into the single digits during the winter.

Also, in designing my roost(s) and poop board, I have a question- these will be large breed birds- how far in from the edge of the poop board should my roost be? I want to be sure the poop lands on the board and not an inch or whatever outside of it.

Thanks!

To me insulating a coop with adequate ventilation is the same as heating your house in January and having the windows open. Just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[aart]

Insulation most definitely reduces radiant heat and cold through a roof or wall. You have to make the call as to how much of a benefit you will gain compared to the cost of installation. I used insulated panels for our dog houses (floor, roof, and walls) and they are for sure cooler in the Summer and warmer in the winter than non insulated dog houses.

My coop is not insulated but I did use rigid insulation for the exterior nest boxes.

Agrees with this theory......so many people say that it 'holds' heat in the winter, which is not really true with the ventilation aspect of our application.

Am thinking of putting some insulation inside the south wall and roof of the shed my coop is in, as it really starts cooking in there once the sun hits it in the afternoon.
Luckily that side of the shed does not contain the coop so I won't have to protect it from the birds.

 

[junko]

Okay, I think I'm going to go with insulation. I'd budgeted for it anyway. After sweltering working in the sun on the coop in that location, keeping it cooler is definitely important, too.

Thanks, everyone, for your help and your opinions!

 

[The Lazy L]

Ask dear hubby if adding insulation is really a waste of time if it keeps you from bringing your chickens inside of the house on cold winter's days.

Last winter was unusually cold. For several weeks the days high was in single digits. No heat, lighting or insulation in the coop. Coop's floor poop/vent, south windows and chicken door were open 24 x 7. Chickens survived comfortably.

 

[jcnick34]

The best way I heard it described that made sense to me was: Just because you aren't wearing a winter hat doesn't mean you should not/would not wear a coat.

I think the insulation helps a lot to moderate the temps a bit in the coop. It will cut down on drafts through the seams and cold through the walls. It also helps retain the heat from the chickens that are perching next to the wall.

Additionally, ventilation (at the top of the coop above where the chickens are hopefully) helps keep the humidity down which is the real threat - much more than the cold. Chickens can handle really cold if there isn't humidity.

Just my 2cents.