insulation question/ suggestion

[yodercountrygirl]

This is my cousin's-in-law coop. I suggested that he insulate it, but he said he didn't need too because of the climate he is at and from the chickens themselves. OK I KNOW he is wrong but help me out with a great comeback. He lives in buffalow NY area. ( he is a HUGE Know it all) I live in MO so I am pretty sure NY needs insulatation!!

 

[triggfamily5]

I live in NE Wyoming, cold winters, wind blowing, snow on the ground, below zero winters, and I haven't had insulation in my coop for over 4 years, it's just an old horse shelter, not even draft free. I just use a heat lamp in the winter over my water container to keep it thawed, and use the deep litter method.

 

[countrychix]

I'm a newbie to chickens and live about an hour south of Buffalo. Before starting our coop I talked with my neighbors who have raised chickens for years and found that their 8x12 ft. coop isn't insulated. They do run a brooder lamp in the coop thoughout the winter to take the edge off the cold. We are yet undecided as to which way we'll be going but are leaning towards having none. The breeds we will be housing are winter hardy and we too plan to use a brooder lamp.

 

[1newchickontheblock]

More input from a newbie
I got a bunch of insulation free off freecycle, so I will be insulating my 4 x 8 coop here in MA, where we can get pretty cold (although rarely less than teens).
I, personally, am leery of a lamp, in case the power should go out - IMO, the birds will be better off au naturel, albeit bundled up (via the insulation
Whatever you(he) decide(s), I'm sure will be the right decision for you(him)! Cheers!



ETA parentheses

 

[Nuzzy]

I'd say it'd have to be ROUTINELY below 0°F before insulation became really needed, unless the breed isn't cold hearty at all...



Wild birds don't die in the winter and they don't all fly south

 

[teach1rusl]

Well, technically no place NEEDS insulation. Some folks in really cold areas might end up with chickensicles, frostbite, etc., but depending on how people view their birds, that's okay (to some people). I insulate in southern Indiana, so I certainly would insulate in NY area, but I view my chickens as pets.
Most folks say chickens will do okay down to zero degrees as long as a coop is draft free. Many add heat if it falls below that.

 

[yodercountrygirl]

Well thanks you all

Since I live in MO and we insulated alittle bit(we have a huge coop compaired to his), our girls still got frostbit and just thought you would have too for NY. O well to each his own!!

 

[RocketDad]

If you're gonna heat it, put a layer of bead foam or (better) foil-faced foam covered with masonite or something. Even the heat produced by chickens will be more effective with insulation.

Yeah, I know, we're insulating AND ventilating, but it makes a more comfortable coop.

I mostly ran heat over the winter to improve my sleep: to keep rocketMom from waking me up in the middle of the night wondering if the hens were okay. I turned it off when she squawked about the power bill.

{edit to add}

What you don't want to do is shock animals with massive rapid temp changes. Wild birds acclimate day-by-day to the weather, and they've had thousands or millions of generations to get used to it. Chickens are hardy, breed dependent, but they can get used to warmth and then can't handle cold. It has to do with feathering, behaviors, and housing design. Wild birds don't stand around in cold wind like "mad dogs and Englishmen" out in the noon day sun, either. They'll find a way to hunker down when things get really bad.

Also, wild birds aren't cranking out an egg every day. That takes a toll on the chickens. Take care of them and they'll take care of you.

 

[patandchickens]

"Need" to insulate in Buffalo? No.

Benefit from it? Sure.

My main concern with the coop would be whether there is a mechanism for leaving ventilation open all winter in such a way that it does not get drafty on the chickens... but there certainly *may* be, and I'm just not seeing it.

If you shut a coop up tight with minimal or no ventilation, you get frostbite at really-quite-mild temperatures. Chckens do DRY cold air quite well though.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[2bukrdg]

Quote:
Make sure you cover the insulation with wood cause the chickens like to peck at it and tear it out. especially styro foam.