Insulation in WA state?

[rmonge00]

Hi everyone,

I just got finished builiding my coop and am now wondering whether I should insulate it or not.... I live in Western WA, which does not get too cold (20 F at an absolute minimum) - and I have a south facing window to let in the winter sun.... so..... do you think I need to install some sort of insulation or do you think they will be fine in the winter?

Thanks!!

Ryan

 

[chickened]

I live in western Oregon and you will be wasting your money. Make it wind proof and dry.

 

[Imp]

Hi rm...

I'm in the Seattle area, and it does occasionally get colder than 20, but not much. In 30+ years I've never seen it get below about 0*F. I use an uninsulated Rubbermaid storage shed for my coop, but do supplement heat to keep it just above freezing in the winter.
Keep in mind that we can go from the 50s to 15 in a few hours if an Arctic blast blows in.
I think you will be fine in the winter, just be prepared for the unusual situation.

Imp

 

[Sinfonian]

Welcome from the Seattle area...

My brother and I are building dueling coops next month and have the same concern. Our mild weather here rarely gets below 20 degrees and even that cold is rare (about a week a year). The same can be said of summer highs above 85 for about a week total a year.

We have thought about layering ridged foam insulation between two pieces of OSB plywood, but it seems a bit silly to do so when we are cutting a 6 inch gap along all 6 feet of our coop for ventilation. In all, it seems a lot of work for our mild climate.

Of course, if you intend on heating the coop above 50 degrees all winter (and lighting it) to get optimal egg production, then I would say go for it. We've wrestled with many of the issues you are, so you're in good company. Enjoy!

 

[catdaddy66]

Quote:
X2!!

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Unless you're on the east side of the Cascades like I am....I would concentrate on a covered run to keep them dry and make the coop itself wind & raccoon proof.

 

[patandchickens]

Yeah, I'm generally a big fan of insulation even when it is not 'needed' as such... but even I would not likely bother insulating in your situation, unless I was just kind of bored

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[speedy2020]

I am not insulate the coop either. If you are concern the temperature get below 10deg, just get yourself a hang light with ceramic heat emitter bulb for emergency.

 

[Bleenie]

It got below 0F where I am (by Puyallup, WA) for a few days a while back & I had to add a heat light to the coop and most of the birds slept inside but they all did just fine... it was mostly me just feeling bad for them, lol.

 

[Sinfonian]

Quote:
/cough REALLY? Maybe with wind chill, but the low I've seen at SeaTac, which is far closer to Puyallup than Mountlake Terrace, was 12, and that's such an aboration that it's not expected to be repeated. Either way, 12 is very cold.