Insulate or not?

[Marct611]

Hi
I’m getting back into having a small flock of only 6-8 hens. Just looking to get opinions on weather I should insulate the coop when I build it for the normally cold New England winters. I’m going to build a 6x8 salt box design. Thanks.

 

[DobieLover]

Hi
I’m getting back into having a small flock of only 6-8 hens. Just looking to get opinions on weather I should insulate the coop when I build it for the normally cold New England winters. I’m going to build a 6x8 salt box design. Thanks.

Insulation in your climate isn't necessary. Lots of ventilation and keeping the coop DRY are.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi
I’m getting back into having a small flock of only 6-8 hens. Just looking to get opinions on weather I should insulate the coop when I build it for the normally cold New England winters. I’m going to build a 6x8 salt box design. Thanks.

Ventilate... don't insulate!

Feathers on birds bodies insulate them. Keeping moisture OUT is key and not forgetting that a lot of it is expelled during standard respiration.

I will have to look up what a salt box design is... 48 square feet might be tight for 6-8 birds in New England winters.

 

[Marct611]

Ventilate... don't insulate!

Feathers on birds bodies insulate them. Keeping moisture OUT is key and not forgetting that a lot of it is expelled during standard respiration.

I will have to look up what a salt box design is... 48 square feet might be tight for 6-8 birds in New England winters.

Thanks I haven’t started building yet and open up suggestion on size and options

 

[Tre3hugger]

might be tight for 6-8 birds in New England winters.

Will they stat inside a lot of the time in the winter, even if provided a snow free area, like under the coop? Would you still open the door and give them the option to come in and out everyday over winter?

 

[jreardon1918]

We can hear the cheers from Gillette Stadium, So we are neighbors. Draft free, plenty of ventilation will do the trick in our climate. The lowest we have had in 3 years in our coop is -9F. And that was for a day. That ventilation will serve the chicks well in our pretty warm summers as well.

Edited to add a picture and to say, -9 may have been an exaggeration.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I tried some insulation and what the chickens could reach they ate. So no, don’t insulate. I converted an 8 x 10 foot shed and built a very large secured run. I currently have 6 chickens so they have plenty of room. You need to provide lots of room for the long winters. They get crabby when they are cramped.

 

[Marct611]

Will they stat inside a lot of the time in the winter, even if provided a snow free area, like under the coop? Would you still open the door and give them the option to come in and out everyday over winter?

Yes I plan to give them the option to go out everyday year round with the exception if it’s going to be negative during the day. I’m going to have a very large covered pen for them around 10x40. I just worry about them getting frost bite in the winters overnight without insulation to hold the heat in the coop

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Yes I plan to give them the option to go out everyday year round with the exception if it’s going to be negative during the day. I’m going to have a very large covered pen for them around 10x40. I just worry about them getting frost bite in the winters overnight without insulation to hold the heat in the coop

They’ll be fine. Moist air would likely be a factor in low temps for frostbite. That’s why adequate ventilation is so important. My rooster gets a little bit of frost nip on super cold nights, but his comb and wattle are huge. The hens are fine.

 

[Marct611]

Yes I plan to give them the option to go out everyday year round with the exception if it’s going to be negative during the day. I’m going to have a very large covered pen for them around 10x40. I just worry about them getting frost bite in the winters overnight without insulation to hold the heat in the coop

Ok my question about the ventalation is then, do you have any vents you leave open overnight even in the winter months? Also I was planning of having heat mounted above the roost pointing down at them