Insulating A Coop

[bwb518]

In the process of building a coop. We live in the north and temperatures do get cold during the winter months. Is there a need to insulate the coop or is there enough heat generated to keep the coop warm. Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[cavemanrich]

Depending on the amount of chickens you have, there is not all that much heat generated to be captured by your insulating effort. Most of the heat generated by your chickens is held close to them with their down and feathers. Insulation in coop is not a bad thing BTW. It works both ways. In summer to keep the suns rays effect lower. Important about insulation, is to keep it dry. Wet insulation invites rot and mold. Dry is ideal. Insulation sometimes invites rodents to set up shop. Something to keep in mind.
Most important is draft free ventilation. If all is working as desired, the little heat that is in your coop will also escape as well.
If you do need to provide heat into your coop, then insulation is a big factor.
Adding heat to coop is a hot topic. Peeps are divided in that like the Hatfield's and McCoys. I am a realist and understand that some places do need it. In the extreme cold areas, those that do not provide some supplemental heat, chickens do loose combs and wattles even with best ventilation. Some loose whole chickens as well. . Not everyone is able to provide some of the needed heat in those extreme conditions. Their solution is to get the most Cold Hardy Breeds.
My example of added heat means making inside of coop from -20F to 0F. I do not suggest -20F to +40F. You are in Canada, so translate those numbers into Celsius. That would certainly be disastrous. Unless you had a guaranteed means of maintaining it totally all cold season, one power outage and your flock is wiped out.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!
You're not that far north, tip o the mitt latitude, not like some canadians.
I advise against it....rodents, cost, have to cover from chicken access,
and mostly because adequate ventilation makes 'holding heat' in coop moot.

But here's a bunch of threads to browse thru for more opinions:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/se...&t=post&o=relevance&c[title_only]=1&c[node]=9

 

[lazy gardener]

Like both Rich and Aart stated, insulation becomes a moot point in a coop. Because you need to have ventilation open year round. Yes, even in Canada, even in Winter. You are at Lat 45.9. I am at 44.5. So, not much difference.

What I do deem necessary is lots of ventilation: At least = to 10% of your floor area, or 1 s.f./bird. My 10 x 12 coop has 18 s.f. of windows, and the remainder of the ventilation is divided between soffit, gable, and floor level vents, for a total of ~ 23 s.f. There is also a human door, pop door, clean out door, and a set of doors that can be opened into a broody/nesting area. If you want a peek at my coop, it can be seen in my interview with link listed in my signature line. You will need to paste it into a search bar. Note the steep roof pitch. Super important in snow country.

An other consideration against insulation is that it would make a great hidey place for mites! And I think an other poster already mentioned the issue of rodents!

Before you complete your coop design, you might consider doing a little research on: Woods open air style coop, and deep litter management in coop and run.

Enjoy your planning and designing phase. Almost as much fun as the doing phase.

Other searches for your entertainment: Fermented feed (How and why FAQ link in my signature line), MHP cave style brooding @Blooie has an article and thread about that topic in her signature.

 

[Sublight]

Most of the time heat is not needed.
If its crazy cold then mabe a little, but still, It would make me nervous.
Chickens alter their metabolism to cope with cold weather.
If you warm the coop, then the heat goes out then they don't have time to adjust, and die.
We get threads too often about coops burning down. I was talking in one of those just a few days ago.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/such-a-sad-day.1222462/

I would invite you to read that.
Please remember this. Song birds sit in trees all winter and don't die. Their bodies are smaller, and don't retain near the heat as your chicken, and they have no wind breaks or walls. They live just fine.

 

[Kiki]

Here is a neat experiment you might want to read:
Comparing my insulated and non-insulated coops