NY chicken lover!!!!

[Glasshen]

TOB, our coop is insulated, we used rigid foam boards. But, I think it was not necessary. I too had a couple of frozen eggs, and Earl had one tip of a comb about an eighth of an inch frost bitten. I had to heat the water dish. We did have to add vents at the peak of the gable end and about three inches over the door. I couldn't believe how warm the flock could stay all on their own. Your coop is built very tight and carefully with materials which didn't have to be adapted, so I too believe that insulation is not necessary. Someone once told me that the cavities between interior and exterior walls are inviting places for mice etc...just something to chew on...

 

[Tough Old Bird]

ridiculous

I have some 6 year old Sumatra's who have lived every night of their life in a tree (much to my displeasure) and rain, snow, freezing rain, 60 mph winds, they are fine. The "fact" passed around BYC that drafts kill chickens is poop

Insulation in a chicken coop is like putting a robe on over your down jacket. Totally unnecessary. I read a thread or story (sorry to tired to really remember which it was) about Islandic chickens that free range in the winter in Iceland. They are out walking on the ice and snow and wind. Remember chickens are wearing a down coat. Not only isn't my wonderful coop not insulated I never closed the pop door all winter. They roost up high, so I didn't see the need. I will admit that I did have a few eggs freeze, but that was my fault for not increasing my collecting to twice a day during the cold weather.

Night. Type more when I wake up. I figure that'll be about Sunday afternoon.

I had 40-some chickens that spent the winter in an old horse run-in which is made out of wood boards and has gaps between each board. the entire top of the coop is open (and covered with hardware cloth). I did fill in some large gaps but I am sure it was plenty drafty. My other two coops are made of plywood and OSB. No insulation. No frostbite this year (yay!) and all the birds did just fine.

I have to agree with everyone else and say not necessary. And not only that, after reading recently about there not being enough draft in the coop in winter and humidity rising from chickens and not be able to escape and that leading to possibly frostbite-I would think insulating a coop would only increase those chances? Definitely no need to spend the extra money, your chickens will be nice and cold hardy by time winter comes!

Thanks for the replies, and it is what I was leaning towards. Funny, when I first planned the coop, I was definitely having insulation! But as time passed and we continued designing and then started building, I had come to a different conclusion, but wanted to see what some of you thought. My husband kept insisting it was silly to put in insulation if you were poking holes in things for ventilation! It started to sink in. It'll be a pretty tight coop, and we'll learn as we go, I'm sure -- and maybe have to make some adaptations along the way. But I can see that ventilation is the far bigger issue. Not the cold. It's hard not to humanize our animals, particularly those we keep as pets. And despite the benefits of owning chickens, these birds will also be backyard pets. I'll try to remember they come dressed for the cold and not to fret....

Thanks again!

TOB

PS: as we will have walls installed over the framing, there will even be that extra bit of "dead air" space in between, which, actually, is a form of insulation. So there ya go!

 

[Tough Old Bird]

TOB, our coop is insulated, we used rigid foam boards. But, I think it was not necessary. I too had a couple of frozen eggs, and Earl had one tip of a comb about an eighth of an inch frost bitten. I had to heat the water dish. We did have to add vents at the peak of the gable end and about three inches over the door. I couldn't believe how warm the flock could stay all on their own. Your coop is built very tight and carefully with materials which didn't have to be adapted, so I too believe that insulation is not necessary. Someone once told me that the cavities between interior and exterior walls are inviting places for mice etc...just something to chew on...

Hi and thanks for the input, Glasshen. It's this kind of advice from people that have learned as they went along and "live chickens" that is so valuable. I realize that there may be some disadvantage to having the space between the inner wall and framing, but I think it will be worth the value of not only keeping the coop cleaner (and easier to clean) but also protecting the chickens from the many exposed nails and the oddball place where there is an area that doesn't meet that tight and allows wind (and possibly) predators in.

TOB

 

[AQHAchick22]

Well I went out to check on the chickens this morning and they killed the baby I don't know what happened...I had them separated away from the rest of the flock in the coop with chicken wire around them and somehow they tore the wire down and this morning Gracie (my now unbroody mama) was sitting up n a perch like nothing had happened and all was well....ugh happy Friday to me....I should have taken them out of the coop like I had originally planned.

 

[minichic]

Oh, boy - I'm in trouble this weekend - I found the Berkshire Farm sale, and it's Sunday.

http://www.berkshirefarm.org/img/document_files/PoultryAnimalSale-2013Spring-a.pdf

This is the Nassau sale:

http://townofnassau.org/content/Boards/View/11:field=documents;/content/Documents/File/1260.pdf

Wow two swaps on the SAME day? Someone didn't do their planning right.... decisions, decisions!

 

[Cass]

Well I went out to check on the chickens this morning and they killed the baby

I don't know what happened...I had them separated away from the rest of the flock in the coop with chicken wire around them and somehow they tore the wire down and this morning Gracie (my now unbroody mama) was sitting up n a perch like nothing had happened and all was well....ugh happy Friday to me....I should have taken them out of the coop like I had originally planned.

Sorry to hear of your loss. Definitely a "live and learn" lesson there. I think everyone that hatches with broodies has had this happen at one time or another, but it is heartbreaking none the less.

 

[mderby48]

Well I went out to check on the chickens this morning and they killed the baby I don't know what happened...I had them separated away from the rest of the flock in the coop with chicken wire around them and somehow they tore the wire down and this morning Gracie (my now unbroody mama) was sitting up n a perch like nothing had happened and all was well....ugh happy Friday to me....I should have taken them out of the coop like I had originally planned.

I'm sorry, that stinks. I guess we all make mistakes and learn from them. I made the mistake of thinking I could trust my dogs with my chickens and one of my CR chicks paid for it. They have always been around each other and were fine I don't understand it. I also thought it was adorable that the new chicks in the coop all cuddled in a nesting box together at night til I went out and found one was smothered. Its been a rough week for everyone.

 

[stonykill]

Thanks for the replies, and it is what I was leaning towards. Funny, when I first planned the coop, I was definitely having insulation! But as time passed and we continued designing and then started building, I had come to a different conclusion, but wanted to see what some of you thought. My husband kept insisting it was silly to put in insulation if you were poking holes in things for ventilation! It started to sink in. It'll be a pretty tight coop, and we'll learn as we go, I'm sure -- and maybe have to make some adaptations along the way. But I can see that ventilation is the far bigger issue. Not the cold. It's hard not to humanize our animals, particularly those we keep as pets. And despite the benefits of owning chickens, these birds will also be backyard pets. I'll try to remember they come dressed for the cold and not to fret....

Thanks again!

TOB

PS: as we will have walls installed over the framing, there will even be that extra bit of "dead air" space in between, which, actually, is a form of insulation. So there ya go!

here is my take on it. Chickens live outside. They need to acclimate to the weather naturally. Doing anything to add unnatural warmth for them is only going to weaken them. Pets or not strong healthy chickens are the goal. Not weak birds who are not naturally acclimated to the weather changes and then find themselves huddled up in a corner of a cop for 6 months of the year to keep warm. That just isn't good for them.
No matter the weather my birds go outside. If they want to eat they WILL go outside. I never put food in the coop. So they are conditioned no matter the weather to go out to eat and drink. Water is never in my coops either

 

[stonykill]

Wow two swaps on the SAME day? Someone didn't do their planning right.... decisions, decisions!

well Berkshire farms wins out. That is in my backyard.

 

[Lynzi777]

Well I went out to check on the chickens this morning and they killed the baby

I don't know what happened...I had them separated away from the rest of the flock in the coop with chicken wire around them and somehow they tore the wire down and this morning Gracie (my now unbroody mama) was sitting up n a perch like nothing had happened and all was well....ugh happy Friday to me....I should have taken them out of the coop like I had originally planned.

Oh no! I'm so sorry! Poor little thing.

TGIF - I am so sick of my job thank god the weekend is finally here! Dreary day here tho, not sure the cheeps will be out today.