Insulating a coop, necessary or busy work?

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
Mrs. AK Did you insulate the roof as well? I'm using metal roofing so it will match the house and was just wondering if I should insulate the rafter spaces as well. We're not quite as cold as you are but it does get chilly near Ottawa.

We did. We used the metal roofing, too, so the snow would slide off, and in the winter we put up foam board between the joists, and then covered it with that silver bubblewrap stuff (the name is escaping me)... we even made an awning of the bubblewrap over the roosts to trap the warm air closer to the girls. They did really well this winter - only stayed indoors during Jan/Feb when it was -20 to -30°F for about 4 weeks.

In the summer, we remove it for ventilation.

We sprinkle lime in their dropping pit - under the shavings and every now and again in the shavings. Keeps the ammonia smell down. Just that alone has been known to affect my girls' laying. Best thing we ever did.

 

[KrisRose]

I did'nt insulate my roof and I wish I had. My hens did well but I had to remove my roo or risk losing his comb.
My coop has 6 ft insulated walls but the trusses on up to the peak-maybe 3 ft?- is'nt insulated. There are vents on the ends of both peaks. Worked well till we got 50 mph winds and bitter cold temps. That wind hit the vent just right and created a draft that started frostbite on Earl's comb. The top roost is 5 ft and he sits right in that corner.
I've considered making a hinged "door" which I could use to block that vent when needed. Also am considering a false ceiling either just over the roost or the entire coop to help keep the heat in. I would also remove this for summer.