Insulation or anything inside? Located in Washington

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

Hello! Working on a new coop now, current coop is not insulated and tends to match outdoor temps. I’m debating what to do inside. Would the exposed framing be annoying to clean or fine? Any recommendations in a primarily rainy location that does get occasional low and high temps? The outer frame is exterior siding T1-11 (3/4” thick)

 

[Rldad1]

You don't need insulation unless you get way below zero. Chickens wear down coats. You do need lots and lots of ventilation. Ventilation keeps things dry and moisture is your enemy as it can cause frostbite and respiratory problems. Ventilation should be high and situated so that there is not a draft blowing directly on the birds on the roost. Minimum of 1 square foot of ventilation per bird.

 

[Acre4Me]

Dry and draft-free! Your temps on western side of WA are generally not extreme, and your cold temps are generally pretty moderate. I lived in Tacoma and worked in Olympia in the past, so I’ve experienced weather in that part of W WA. Eastern WA gets colder although it’s drier.

Since you do not have a roof yet, a popular way to get upper ventilation is to use 2x4s to support the roof, but set those on top of the coop framing…then you will have 3.5” of ventilation all around the perimeter of the coop and above the heads of the chickens.

Don’t use insulation: the birds will peck and destroy it and the rodents will love it.

 

[saysfaa]

The exposed framing does make it a little harder to clean -edit to add the visible parts -end edit. The dust collects on the cross pieces. A whisk broom with long, soft bristles cleans it fairly well but it is an extra step.

When I painted it, and when I will whitewash it in the spring, and if I ever treat for mites or lice it takes a little more time and care to get the extra corners.

I think it is worth that extra step to deny mice and such the protection of both sides of the studs being covered. The T-11 isn't very secure against mice as it is too easy for them to chew a way through if they don't find a crack.

I've been using quite a lot of ashes in their dust bath space inside the coop and I think that has made mine much more dusty than most are. I've started thinking of using fewer ashes, at least in winter.

 

[DobieLover]

You don't need insulation where you are. Having inside temps match outside temps is a good thing as it means you are getting the moisture out of the coop with the infiltration of fresh air.
You don't have to have 1 sq ft minimum of ventilation in the coop per bird. That is just a recommendation. The point is you need to target as much as you can without compromising draft free roosting area. If you have good air flow with a high volume exchange, you will have good ventilation.
I have T1-11 siding and just primed and painted the interior of my coop white.
You do look like you need more ventilation. I'd add more windows because I like lots of light coming in the coop.
What style roof is going on, how large of an overhang and what type of roofing material are you planning to use? I recommend a minimum of 1' overhang all the way around but prefer 2'. That enables you to leave the windows open wide without worry of rain blowing in the coop and offers baffling for strong winds coming it at the soffits.
Chickens are dusty creatures by nature and heavy coatings of dust are inevitable. I clean my coop once a year and it including hitting it with a leaf blower with the doors wide open then vacuuming with a shop vac to get a bit more before I add fresh bedding. I also have a hand broom with soft bristles and will occasionally swipe at the walls and shelves.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I also vote for no insulation.

Painting the inside helps protect the wood and make things easier to clean as well as sealing off the space between the frame and siding (tiny mites like to hide there).

Insulation gives mites and rodents a great home.

 

[3KillerBs]

You don't have to have 1 sq ft minimum of ventilation in the coop per bird. That is just a recommendation. The point is you need to target as much as you can without compromising draft free roosting area.

VERY well said.

We make recommendations because they are generally useful and give people a good starting point but climate and specific circumstances MATTER.

Here in the Steamy Southeast of the USA I can't keep an unshaded coop under 100F on a 90F day with less than double or triple that 1 square foot per bird (based on the 4 square feet per bird and the size of the coop).

Except for the coop with the Monitor Roof, which is still better shaded but which will stay in an acceptable range with "only" 1.5x the usual recommendation.

current coop is not insulated and tends to match outdoor temps.

This is exactly what a coop well-ventilated coop is supposed to do.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I came to offer opinion on humid rainy environments and coop building, but the wise comments above covered it completely and more coherently. Complete agreement from me - particularly if you are in the rain forest portion of Wahington. Keeping moisture from building up in that coop will be critical to your bird's health, both frostbite dangers near freezing and because chicken's respiratory systems are surprisingly fragile.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

You don't need insulation where you are. Having inside temps match outside temps is a good thing as it means you are getting the moisture out of the coop with the infiltration of fresh air.
You don't have to have 1 sq ft minimum of ventilation in the coop per bird. That is just a recommendation. The point is you need to target as much as you can without compromising draft free roosting area. If you have good air flow with a high volume exchange, you will have good ventilation.
I have T1-11 siding and just primed and painted the interior of my coop white.
You do look like you need more ventilation. I'd add more windows because I like lots of light coming in the coop.
What style roof is going on, how large of an overhang and what type of roofing material are you planning to use? I recommend a minimum of 1' overhang all the way around but prefer 2'. That enables you to leave the windows open wide without worry of rain blowing in the coop and offers baffling for strong winds coming it at the soffits.
Chickens are dusty creatures by nature and heavy coatings of dust are inevitable. I clean my coop once a year and it including hitting it with a leaf blower with the doors wide open then vacuuming with a shop vac to get a bit more before I add fresh bedding. I also have a hand broom with soft bristles and will occasionally swipe at the walls and shelves.

Thank you! I haven’t installed the two windows yet but will be today in those two spots above the nest boxes. I have a 12x12 vent covered in hardware cloth on the right. Do you think that’ll be enough or need more? I keep the coop very clean, I use a droppings board and scoop out daily like a litterbox so it’s never smelled like ammonia. But know ventilation can be an issue otherwise, especially for the hot spells.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

I also vote for no insulation.

Painting the inside helps protect the wood and make things easier to clean as well as sealing off the space between the frame and siding (tiny mites like to hide there).

Insulation gives mites and rodents a great home.

Thank you! I’ll be painting the inside and have caulked a lot of the gaps as of last night.