Insulating the coop?

[flyin-lowe]

The only insulation I used is the think roll of silver backed "bubble wrap" type insulation on the inside of my metal roof. Just to keep condensation from building up and dripping onto the hens. It's not a matter of if, but when rodents will become and issue. When I built my coop I put the rafters/trusses on and then draped the insulation over that and then the metal roof directly over it. I still see small pieces of it drug out from time to time by a mouse. There are coops in Canada that have one side completely open. Keeping them out of the wind is the main concern.

 

[The Lazy L]

Northern Indiana here. No insulation in the coop.

 

[Alaskan]

I have one insulated coop and several without insulation.

The insulated coop is much more comfortable and much warmer but much of that reason is because I have a great deal of wind.

I lined that coop with hardware cloth and as a result no rodents have gotten into the insulation. Lined entire floor, door sill, and up 2 feet.

 

[LadyBubbles]

Insulation may be needed, but not for the reasons most of us think it is. We tend to think in terms of our comfort. Birds needs are different.

The need for insulation depends on climate, but also on building materials. A house that uses metal for sides and roof will radiate heat inside in summer and heat out in winter. So insulation is a good idea to buffer this affect out of it. That is as true down south as it is up north. A dark colored metal clad house may get a heat rise in summer that is every bit as dangerous to the birds (if they are forced to say in) as any cold is up north. So insulation keeps that heat out. Done right, an insulated house in summer may be cooler inside than out, vs. a sweat box death trap if not insulated.

As to the cold, each bird generates about the same amount of heat as a 10 watt night light. Collectively, a flock of birds will generate quite a lot of radiant heat, that if retained inside, both warms the house and creates enough air movement to move the warm moist air up and out IF you have good ventilation. Insulation will prevent the metal sides and roof from radiating that out The right kind of insulation will also isolate the cold metal roofing from the warm moist air to help prevent condensation, which will then drip down on the birds. Cold and wet are not good. A metal roof should always have insulation beneath it. Bubble stuff or sheet goods, but always put insulation under a metal roof.

A house with proper ventilation and insulation may result in a heat rise of +10F over outside temps. Birds are OK down to about 0F, so a well built, insulated house may allow them to get past -10F with few issues. The right type of birds far below that. Keeping water from freezing is the big issue then.

If insulation IS used, avoid the fiberglass batts. It is a perfect place to harbor rats and mice. Use a thin layer of foil faced polyiso insulation. And it will need to be covered to protect it from the birds, who will peck at it if exposed.

Again, if you are far enough north that you feel insulation is a must, you then need to be considering what birds you will be keeping, and it won't be those with large exposed combs and wattles. You need to be raising birds better adapted to the cold.

You want high and dry. High is well drained and leads to dry, and well ventilated IS dry and dry is warm. Wet is cold.

This was exactly what I need to know. My a frame coop has metal for the top over hardware cloth. I will be doing this asap