Newbie coop: prepare for winter and summer

[rowechicks]

Hello! My DH and I are building our first coop and I'm wondering whether we need to insulate at all. We are close to the Bighorn mountains in Wyoming and temps can range from 105 in July (summer usually lasts 3 months) to week long bursts of - 15 in the winter (we get snow at any moment from September to June). Do we insulate or should good walls keep the birds warmth around them in the winter? I don't want to roast them in the summer.

 

[junebuggena]

You don't want a sealed up coop in the winter. Chickens need a dry, well ventilated coop, year round.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

You don't want a sealed up coop in the winter. Chickens need a dry, well ventilated coop, year round. 

Ditto

Our temps usually only get down in the teens and single digits, but we leave the south window cracked, the vent near the ceiling is open year around and the pop door is open all day during the winter.

 

[rowechicks]

I plan on having vents run along the underside of the roof (one slant, not peaked) on three sides. I'm still trying to decide on the door, which has an affect on where any other windows are. I'm only allowed 10 hens and no roosters where we live, so i need to know about insulating it.

 

[junebuggena]

If you have adequate ventilation, there will be no benefits to having insulation. Insulation is to hold in warmth. If you've got enough ventilation, that warm air will be exiting the coop. It's not worth the added expense.

 

[rowechicks]

Thank you!

 

[aart]

If you have adequate ventilation, there will be no benefits to having insulation. Insulation is to hold in warmth. If you've got enough ventilation, that warm air will be exiting the coop. It's not worth the added expense.

Ditto Dat^^^

Insulation in walls can also provide very good homes for pests...rodents and insects.

In a hot climate insulation of roof can help slow solar gain inside coop....tho deep shade and good air flow is better.

 

[cholland]

Search for Woods open air poultry house. Or just Woods Poultry House. There are a couple of threads on here. It's a great design for ventilation and cold temps. With good ventilation for summer too. It can be scaled up or down for different sizes. My next coop will be of this design for sure.

 

[rowechicks]

Thanks