In VT do I need to insulate?

[RachelVT]

I am getting so many different opinions. yes or no do i need to insulate my coop? i live in northern VT so it does get pretty cold. I was going to have a "dead air" space, is that enough? Also how far off the ground should the coop be for them to forage underneath? thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Answers
Do I need to insulate my coop?
1. Yes you would need to if your gonna have cold winters with alot of snow ,which I know y'all get alot of cause they will be in the coop most of the winter but for the floor I would go with the Deep litter Method. but now if they are full grown you will be able to get a way with a heat lamp. Full grown chickens give off about 10* of body heat this is why they huddle togther for the warmth.

How far off the ground should the coop be for them to forage underneath?
2. well this come from how high do you want to build it off the ground as well how easy would you like to make the cleaning out of the coop (ie) make it as high as the wheel barrow so it can fit under the coop, but I would say at least 3 feet off the ground that way they have room and you can place the food and water under it if need be.

Good luck to you I hope this helps.

 

[Patty13637]

I am in Northern NY and my coop is not insulated and I do not use a heat lamp . We go as low as -30 . I do not loose chickens. My coop is draft free . They get fresh water 2 x a day food 24/7 acess outside daily , its up to them if they want to go out .


Patty

 

[triggfamily5]

I live in NE Wyoming with lots of snow, WIND and cold also. My coop is not insulated (and really not as draft free as it should be

) It's been that way for over 5 years. I have only lost some OLD chickens, but I am not positive it was to the cold.

However, I do run a heat lamp directly over the water dish to keep it thawed out (I have a black rubber feeder tub inside the coop in the winter) powered by (2) 100 ft extension cords

I also use the deep litter method, putting in fresh new shavings/straw around October, and stirring/adding shavings throughout the winter until I have a good day to clean it out in the Spring.

You will find insulation is a personal choice. The coop I "plan" on building this year will be insulated with less drafts and better ventilation. That's just because I feel so bad for them in the winter, not because they need it.

 

[rancher hicks]

I'm in central NY . Syracuse. I have no insulation. I did put a heat light (red) in, as well as a white during the day. Didn't lose any birds no frost bite, but plan to use vaseline on legs and combs next winter. Still getting organized. Covered run with tarps on top and plastic around 2 sides. Let them out on the least coldest days.

Had a broody hatch 2/2 in January early Feb.
Litter not very deep compared to most I'd say. Cleaned on the January thaw.
Heat lights near roost. Had 3 CM's roost near the top and near the vent in eaves. In fact they laid the best through the winter. Same with my Dels.

So I vote no insulation and high enough so you can rake out the poop. Mine is at ground level. It was to big to raise. Was here when we bought the house. The idiot who built it put it at ground level. To you want to keep enough birds so they stay warm. 3 birds in a large coop will have a harder time staying warm.

 

[triggfamily5]

Quote:
I forgot about that part. It makes a BIG difference in the birds/space ratio on whether to insulate. I think my guys have more roost room than they do floor room

Of course next roost I build will be level not a ladder style I think. I have a total of 13 birds (standards/bantams) in a lean to that would fit one horse (maybe).

 

[Mervin]

RachelVT

Thanks for posting. Those are both issues I'm currently considering too. The plan I'm sort of basing my coop on, calls for the floor to be 17" off the ground. It really seems short to me though. I started to build it that way then realized it and stopped. If one of the girls got under there, I'd have a heck of a time getting her out. I think I'm going to use that as a rule of thumb. If it would be really difficult for me to chase one out from under it, than it's too short. PS...I don't think I'll insulate. N. VT definitely gets colder than central PA, but I ran across a apropos quote that I can't find the source of right now. It went something like, "The best chicken come from the shoddiest houses."

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Dead air space in the walls doesn't really provide meaningful insulation. If you are not going to actually insulate, may I suggest leaving the walls open (no inner wall panel, you know?) so that if you decide in FUTURE to insulate, you do not have to rip anything apart to do it.

You don't "need" to insulate. You would not regret properly-done insulation, though. It makes the chickens more comfortable, and makes management easier.

I would suggest that those who are, for whatever reason, expecting to run heat lamps definitely SHOULD insulate, though, as it will substantially decrease your electric bill and the demand on our continent's limited power supply.

So I guess, bottom line: if you'll heat, then insulate. If you don't expect to electrically heat, it is optional but desirable.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[RachelVT]

thanks for all the great advice. My next question is. If i don't insulate and i have 5 hens in a coop 8' by 8' will it be too big to keep them warm?

 

[patandchickens]

You might take a look at my 'cold coop' page, link in .sig below, which discusses this sort of issue in some depth.

To directly address your question above, though: no, you neither need, should expect, nor WANT a coop "small enough to keep them warm". For various reasons. See above webpage for why, and some alternatives that work better. So, there is no such thing as too big a coop, not even in the North.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat