Insulating the Coop Question

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Yes I think you would want to insulate! And this also helps keep them cool in summer too

I would not leave the insulation bare tho...chickens pick at EVERYTHING! lol We had a small opening where one of our panel sheets had been cut for an outlet opening..I painted it the same color hoping they would not "see" it. Well THAT was the first thing they went to and start pecking away! We had to cover that right away. THEN they started pecking at the outlets! So now I have child safety plugs in that! Chickens are SO nosy lol Their next adventure has been trying to fly up to the light bulb and get at that!

 

[freerange freaks]

I live in Northern Ontario and we insulated our coop and then sheathed the walls. IMO, the insulation kept the coop too warm and humid through out the winter and I had SERIOUS moisture problems. I will need to keep the coop ventilated all winter which defeates the purpose of having it insulated.

As for the summer, it doesn't keep it any cooler for the same reason. It is always getting fresh air circulated through it. It is virtually the same temperature as outside. My chickies go and lay under the coop to stay cool.

 

[La Banan]

depending on what part of MA the OP is from, his/her winter might be significantly worse than yours in nova scotia. i know for sure that my vermont winters are worse and not insulating would be a ticket to losing my chickens, which would be a terrible return on my investment and could lead to $50 eggs for sure! i don't plan on going into debt for my chicken coop. i've got found insulation, both fiberglass wool and rigid foam, and found lumber for sheathing. it's amazing what people throw away, seriously

You're right Ravenfeathers - I answered in haste and in a lather after being immersed in the fabulous book "The Omnivore's Dilemna". I live on the South Shore of Nova Scotia and it is significantly warmer than some parts of this coast.

I think I was responding to the idea that one should insulate without question if you live in a four-season climate. I guess my roots in the grim Manitoba winters where my aunts and uncles would have laughed to put insulation in any animal's abode (including the two-legged ones) have caused me to really wonder about practices that have become automatic. I will bank the outside walls of my hen house in winter and plan on deep litter as well.

I really love your reminder to use up what others throw out! That is the spirit in which I wish to have hens and a garden and bees!​

 

[ravenfeathers]

Quote:
You're right Ravenfeathers - I answered in haste and in a lather after being immersed in the fabulous book "The Omnivore's Dilemna". I live on the South Shore of Nova Scotia and it is significantly warmer than some parts of this coast.

I think I was responding to the idea that one should insulate without question if you live in a four-season climate. I guess my roots in the grim Manitoba winters where my aunts and uncles would have laughed to put insulation in any animal's abode (including the two-legged ones) have caused me to really wonder about practices that have become automatic. I will bank the outside walls of my hen house in winter and plan on deep litter as well.

I really love your reminder to use up what others throw out! That is the spirit in which I wish to have hens and a garden and bees!

hurrah, bees! chickens are my project this year, gardens are my project every year, and the bees are coming next year! and hopefully my kids and horses will still see me every once in a while.

i plan on insulating, but not heating at all. my horses and cattle live outside 24/7 and do beautifully (three of the horses are from manitoba, too

) and my goats have an uninsulated calf hutch for shelter and remain fat and sassy through the winter, but i think wise ventilation and judicious insulation are good choices for a henhouse in my climate, which can be bleak during the dark months. i hope it will also help with our hot, humid summer weather and keep me from trying to figure out how to keep the hens from overheating and croaking all around me.

 

[La Banan]

hurrah, bees! chickens are my project this year, gardens are my project every year, and the bees are coming next year! and hopefully my kids and horses will still see me every once in a while.

Hey - we're on the same schedule project wise! My best friend and her guy have had bees for about six years now and I want them too. I opted for the chickens this year because, well - they are just soooo pretty and though I love bees - they aren't! My garden is just getting the way I want it - flowers going crazy and weirdly I have planted my vegies on our big deck because otherwise everything gets munched by the deer and bunnies but they won't come on my deck - I hope! My step-kids are good as long as I take them swimming now and then and I own my own business so I can take time off to garden or cluck around if I like.​

 

[LynneP]

Heh. You have't lived in NS until you've had a deer on your deck! They're waiting for everything to ripen! Luckily you don't have moose over there...

We have endless hives here because the farmers rent them for the berries and other crops. Makes for outstanding apples and pears too...

 

[La Banan]

oh Lynn - tell me it's not true! Our deck is only open near the driveway and we do have a dog so perhaps he'll let us know - or I should say lettuce know! Yikes. All right I'll baricade the deck - we don't even use the darn thing except for barbequing. We aren't real deck types actually but we've had several salads off of the deck garden and my herbs are doing great plus tomatoes. Yay! Actually the deer haven't done their usual number on my hosta this year. hmmm....
a conspiracy must be afoot - they're waiting cuz I know they're out there. I can see their beady little eyes. God I love them - and I don't begrudge the hosta's which I think are sort of elderly lady looking (who me?) or even the odd tulip but last year they ate my roses! Ron - get the gun!

 

[Paegglvr]

If you just sheath the walls, the air space will give you some insulation.

If you are going to insulate, put something with a high r-factor in the ceiling.... walls aren't as important and something with a low r-factor will be fine.

 

[FutureChickenMan]

Insulated mine for sound more than anything else. With the door closed I can barely hear the roo's in the morning with my window open! The coop is about 20 feet from my bedroom window.

Anyway, yes if you insulate you need to cover the insulation with plywood/chipboard. Chickens are very curious and will peck anything. Since insulation is fibers of glass you don't want them injesting that.

With 19 birds (at the moment) in a 10x16 coop they stay plenty warm so far with no heat. Although the temps are only getting down in to the 40's right now. I shut them in tight at night; the main door is closed as well as the doors to the runs. The venting is two 8x16 vents at the top of the gable roof.

I'm also using the deep litter method so they have plenty of bedding to snuggle up in. But mostly they snuggle together.