Insulation in the ceiling

[Lurch1]

I am putting the hard 2" insulation in the walls but I am wondering if it is a good idea to put it in the ceiling as well. It is a 10x12 stand along coop that will be 6" off the ground. The vent holes, with out insulation, will be at the front and back between the rafters. If I insulate the ceiling, can I still use these openings? Or do i need to make them in the wall.

 

[Jenski]

Down here in Tennessee we built three experimental coops, each with different designs. One thing we learned after retrofitting the first coop is that (for us) ceiling insulation made a big difference in how the coops held heat. After that we always installed wall and ceiling insulation (foil-backed foam) during construction, before the interior walls went in. We have been very happy with the temperature-regulating properties of the insulation.


[Not sure how your ceiling openings would work. Photos might help.]

 

[Intheswamp]

Lurch1, yes insulation in the ceiling will be beneficial to you regardless of your top ventilation. It help prevent moisture condensation on the inside of your roof along with helping to keep the temps up a bit.

Ed

 

[Lurch1]

This is the coop... http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/6248.pdf

So should I seal off the ceiling and put the vents in the walls at the top then? What about that house wrap stuff?

 

[Intheswamp]

Something about that plan has always been attractive to me.

I would go ahead and insulate the ceiling but leave the ventilation as is. You still want to get rid of the warm, moist air that will rise to the top of the coop...ventilation at the top of those walls will insure that the moisture gets out.

The problem with the condensation comes when there's a big difference in temperature between the outside and inside of the roof material. Insulation helps to keep either side of the actual roof material about the same temperature and thus helps keep the moisture in the warmer interior air (warmed by chicken respiration, poop, heatlamps, etc.,) from condensing onto the cooler metal/roof-decking that is shielded by the insulation. The insulation will also help keep a bit of the radiant heat inside the coop.

If you build tightly enough the house wrap might not be needed, but living in Ontario (I think that's where you're at), the house wrap *shouldn't* hurt anything provided you have adequate built-in ventilation. The big thing is not to have any drafts during cold weather at chicken height.

Too little ventilation will hold in too much moisture resulting in frostbite during below-freezing temperatures. In a dry environment the chickens can handle temperatures well below freezing without auxiliary heating.

Conversely, in warm weather you will definitely want to be able to open the coop up to the fresh air.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[patandchickens]

That is a good and functional design.

For sure you should insulate the ceiling. That is where the worst of your frost will form, and in this climate you will get some frost even on the underside of a plywood-and-shingle roof (a metal or plastic roof would be a GIANT frost farm, if uninsulated).

Just end the insulation 6" or so back from the vent openings, so that the insulation is not blocking the openings or constricting them. That leetle bit of uninsulated roof edge will be totally inconsequential, and that way you keep the openings open.

BTW I do not know how many chickens you are thinking of putting in there, but if you are thinking in terms of stocking it at a 4 sq ft per chicken type density (which I really would not *recommend* in this climate, but, often people get away with it sorta-ok, although not always) then I would urge you to consider adding *additional* vents atop the walls, so that on nicer days you can open up significantly more ventilation than just the soffits there. This, plus droppings boards cleaned daily, would help minimize humidity and thus minimize frostbite.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Lurch1]

I will be going with the 4 sq ft / bird. So I will have to add the extra vents. If I have 6 2'x6" vents in the ceiling, how much more vent space do I need?

 

[patandchickens]

I'd suggest at least that much again, with flaps or whatever to limit or close it as needed. And I would seriously recommend using a droppings board under the roost, cleaned first thing every morning with the poo removed from the coop, as that will greatly reduce the humidity in the air. And the better you can wind-protect and partly-roof your run for wintertime, the more willing the chickens will be to spend osme time out their and relieve crowding indoors.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Lurch1]

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[SillyChicken]

I would suggest that you leave a small air gap between the interior side roof decking and the insulation to allow air to move between the materials, you'll also want outside air ventilation for air exchange. Regular shingles will last longer if there is proper roofing ventilation.