Insulating my coop?

[Folly's place]

Also, build it bigger! 4x4 is tiny and just won't work well.

Mary

 

[CrazyTalk]

I live in New Jersey and had frostbite issues on my rooster's waddles. Last winter he lost his comb tips. I have adequate ventilation but he still got frostbite so I put him and his three hens in our basement for a month until the weather got above freezing. You will have to play it by ear I think.

Looking at your pics, I'd say the ventilation is inadequate. Little vents like that (especially when they're all at the top) don't allow enough air exchange. You want the air turning over as much as possible without actually blowing on the birds.


Jersey is way too far south to have birds losing digits to frostbite because of cold. This is a moisture issue.

 

[hellokittyfive]

More ventilation it is! Thanks CrazyTalk. Especially since I'm adding 3 more to the mix.

 

[Spartan22]

More ventilation less smell and disease, Even my wife was surprise no smell in our coop even when they were cooped last winter.

 

[JackE]

Sorry to hijack your thread arenner, but JackE, this question is for you!





I have three hens and a rooster. They sleep on the left side of the coop. There is ventilation above the front window, a little along the back where the roof line is, and when you walk in the people door there's an opening on the top left. Should I put a vent over the left side window as well?

From what I can see, with four chickens, your coop looks good to go as far as ventilation goes. Those windows DO open, right? I don't think, and I would not want to, cut another hole in that coop. That is a good looking coop. Almost makes me want to get out there, and detail my coop a bit. But, with all the other projects, and a garden to get ready, the coop is way down on the list right now.

 

[hellokittyfive]

Yes, the windows do open. I must admit these photos were taken just after my husband built it 3 years ago. It's worn and dirty now but still looks good. Thanks for the compliment JackE! Well my husband thanks you! Even when I add my 3 new ones there will be enough ventilation?

I clean out their droppings every day so it never smells. And I replace the shavings every other month or so. I have a sign on the coop that says "Spoiled Chickens Lay Better Eggs". Spoiled they are. Now if I can just get them to stop eating their own eggs . . . a topic for another thread.

 

[Spartan22]

Yes, the windows do open. I must admit these photos were taken just after my husband built it 3 years ago. It's worn and dirty now but still looks good. Thanks for the compliment JackE! Well my husband thanks you! Even when I add my 3 new ones there will be enough ventilation?

I clean out their droppings every day so it never smells. And I replace the shavings every other month or so. I have a sign on the coop that says "Spoiled Chickens Lay Better Eggs". Spoiled they are. Now if I can just get them to stop eating their own eggs . . . a topic for another thread.

I must be overdoing the cleaning, I replace their beddings once a week! Now in the winter I deep litter technique (two months) just topped shavings.

 

[hellokittyfive]

I don't know if you are overdoing it. It doesn't hurt to keep a clean coop!

 

[JackE]

Yes, the windows do open. I must admit these photos were taken just after my husband built it 3 years ago. It's worn and dirty now but still looks good. Thanks for the compliment JackE! Well my husband thanks you! Even when I add my 3 new ones there will be enough ventilation?

I clean out their droppings every day so it never smells. And I replace the shavings every other month or so. I have a sign on the coop that says "Spoiled Chickens Lay Better Eggs". Spoiled they are. Now if I can just get them to stop eating their own eggs . . . a topic for another thread.

How big is the roost area where they sleep? I can't really tell from the pics. Looking at the front view picture, the birds all roost in the left half, right? I'm sure you have seen/read, more than a few times on this forum, about sq ft requirements per bird. The more room, the better. Looking at the pictures, it looks like you would have plenty of fresh air exchange, with those windows, and the upper vents. Did you shut them all up tight, in the winter? I would not think you would have had any problems with frostbite. Unless you shut/blocked everything off. Like I said, chickens generate a lot of moisture, breathing. I read where a man, would have to have the respiration rate of a horse, to match a chicken's respiration rate. That's moving some air.

 

[hellokittyfive]

Yes, they roost in the left side. It's 5 x 5 by 4 to 5' high. I don't open the windows in the winter. They open out from the bottom. They are on screen door arms. I thought since the birds sit about level with the bottom of the window I should not open them in the winter because the draft would blow right on them. They are open at night in the summer. I have a piece of plexiglass on the back opening for the winter.