Northern coop insulation and ventilation questions, please share!

[Noymira]

Hey everyone!

We are modifying a shed for our coop (here's my thread on that, https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=464905) and I have some questions about insulating and ventilating for cold weather climates.

I've read patandchicks great page on cold weather coops, and got some good info and ideas, but still have some questions.

What have you all in northern climates used for insulating the walls? My dad is a contractor and has suggested the solid insulation panels, for ease of installation and so I don't have to worry about the fluffy stuff getting wet. I don't have any insulation lying around so I will need to buy this. Anyone use one or the other? OR something altogether different? Any preference either way? Have you skipped the insulation and just added solid wood panels over the interior framing, in addition to the outside sheathing and been fine with that?

Also, I'm trying to figure out what we can do for ventilation that can be easily closed up. I know it should be higher up on the walls on the upwind and downwind sides, but am a bit stumped as to exactly how to do it. I'd love to know what you've used!

We do not have electricity out where our coop will be, so adding a heat source will not be feasible. What have others done to keep water thawed in the winter inside the coop?

 

[ButtersMama]

We don't have ours built yet, but my husband says stryrofoam sheets would work good. I think so too!

 

[Noymira]

Quote:
Oh, I hope someone else chimes in on that! My husband might be able to get those from work for free!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Empty airspace is negligable insulation, and means you have to *remove* the inside panels if you later want to add actual insulation, so I would not recommend that.

The rigid foamboard insulation is probably the best (easy to work with, more resistant to moisture and mice) but is a bit pricier than batts. So it depends how much finances matter (or which one you can scrounge up some cheap or free material of

)

You might seriously consider leaving the walls open for now, which will give you spring, summer and much of the fall to spend scrounging. Then in early winter you can put in whatever you've come up with, add the interior plywood (or whatever) to cover the insulation, and there ya go.

Do make sure your carpentry is REALLY REALLY TIGHT, no matter what you use... if there are gaps or loose bits, mice can take up residence in there and man oh man can they make a mess! (not to mention they eat a lotta chicken feed and you have to rip the walls apart to get rid of them)

(e.t.a. - yes, styrofoam sheets that you scrounged from stores that got them packed around merchandise DO work fine. Their r-value is not quite as good as rigid foamboard but real close and "the price is right"

HOWEVER if you do this you must make super, ultra, fanatically sure that mice never get into your walls, because if they do, you will have teeny white styrofoam balls all over creation!!)

Also, I'm trying to figure out what we can do for ventilation that can be easily closed up. I know it should be higher up on the walls on the upwind and downwind sides, but am a bit stumped as to exactly how to do it.

Cut big rectangular hole(s), securely affix hardwarecloth over them, and have hinged (or whatever) panel to cover. Ta da

We do not have electricity out where our coop will be, so adding a heat source will not be feasible. What have others done to keep water thawed in the winter inside the coop?

If you cannot run electricity, you have no real choice. Basically you will just have to replace the water however often it takes to keep it liquid during the day (they don't need water at night, they're asleep). If you insulate the container the water is in, leaving only a drinking hole, that will keep the water liquid for a lot longer than if you didn't. In most parts of the US, you can get away with only once-daily water changeouts thru most or all of the winter. It's not really a huge deal.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[Kaneke]

what I have found, is that chickens will peck at, and EAT, styrofoam ---

it needs to be covered with something impervious, if it will be anywhere the chickens can get to

 

[Noymira]

Quote:
Empty airspace is negligable insulation, and means you have to *remove* the inside panels if you later want to add actual insulation, so I would not recommend that.
I kind of figured that as well, but saw some people post about it, so I figure it was worth asking.

The rigid foamboard insulation is probably the best (easy to work with, more resistant to moisture and mice) but is a bit pricier than batts. So it depends how much finances matter (or which one you can scrounge up some cheap or free material of

)
You might seriously consider leaving the walls open for now, which will give you spring, summer and much of the fall to spend scrounging. Then in early winter you can put in whatever you've come up with, add the interior plywood (or whatever) to cover the insulation, and there ya go.
I may do this, I keep forgetting I don't have to have it done 100% when the chicks go in this spring!

Do make sure your carpentry is REALLY REALLY TIGHT, no matter what you use... if there are gaps or loose bits, mice can take up residence in there and man oh man can they make a mess! (not to mention they eat a lotta chicken feed and you have to rip the walls apart to get rid of them)
Gotcha! I don't want that, we have enough problems with mice in the house stealing food out of the cat's dish and stashing it in random drawers in my office.

(e.t.a. - yes, styrofoam sheets that you scrounged from stores that got them packed around merchandise DO work fine. Their r-value is not quite as good as rigid foamboard but real close and "the price is right"

HOWEVER if you do this you must make super, ultra, fanatically sure that mice never get into your walls, because if they do, you will have teeny white styrofoam balls all over creation!!)
I'll ask my husband about what they toss out into the dumpster at his work. I'll consult with my dad on making the walls tight, he's helping me with this project and I'm sure will have an idea how to do this.

Also, I'm trying to figure out what we can do for ventilation that can be easily closed up. I know it should be higher up on the walls on the upwind and downwind sides, but am a bit stumped as to exactly how to do it.

Cut big rectangular hole(s), securely affix hardwarecloth over them, and have hinged (or whatever) panel to cover. Ta da

Wonderful, thank you!

We do not have electricity out where our coop will be, so adding a heat source will not be feasible. What have others done to keep water thawed in the winter inside the coop?

If you cannot run electricity, you have no real choice. Basically you will just have to replace the water however often it takes to keep it liquid during the day (they don't need water at night, they're asleep). If you insulate the container the water is in, leaving only a drinking hole, that will keep the water liquid for a lot longer than if you didn't. In most parts of the US, you can get away with only once-daily water changeouts thru most or all of the winter. It's not really a huge deal.
Thanks, I'll look for ideas on insulating the water, that is still one of my big concerns. We can get down to -5 degrees in the winter on some really cold days, and tend to average 15-25 degrees most winter days.

Good luck, have fun,
Thanks! This forum is great for questions, I would feel so lost trying to figure all this out on my own!

Pat​

 

[Noymira]

Quote:
I had read that too, we'll definitely have the walls and insulation covered with solid panels!

 

[Spudd dud]

Hello,
I built a comparable coop to yours. What I used was R11 bat insulation (cheapest) and stuffed the walls. I then covered the inside with 3/8" thick (doesn't need to be strong, just a deterant) plywood and painted it. I have about 17 birds in the 8' x 8' coop right now.

Even if cash is tight I would still make sure you wrap the outside of the coop as well (plastic wrap or tyvek). Moisture will seep through the wall.

As for the water question, I live in northern Wisconsin and with this setup I only had water freeze when the temp dropped below -15 for extended periods of time, which I can count on one hand. I opened the skylight on warmer days but kept it cracked during the cold ones (it's nice to have adjustability). I do have power out to the coop but I've never used it to heat water. The rectangular holes sounds very do-able too!

I also think your storage idea in the rafters is a great! I wanted to do that on mine but I only made it 7' tall. What I'd do with yours is frame out one side of the shed at the bottom of the rafter and cover it with plywood. You might want to put a door on it though or you'll have a pile of dust up there and maybe a bird or two!

My coop's page:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=81983-my-first-coop

Good luck and have fun!

 

[patandchickens]

Well sure, chickens peck ANY kind of insulation, it ALL needs to be covered

Pat

 

[latebloomer]

listening in

i have four chick under a week old,
and more hatching eggs on their way.

i'm going to need to do something soon.

luan was what i'm thinking of covering my rigid insulation with