- May 17, 2014
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I know the topic of insulation has been discussed often, but now I'm seriously considering insulating my coop and I'm wondering if I need to insulate it like I would the walls in my house or just a little to see benefits. I live in PA and the past few years we've had some brutal winters. Last year I dealt with some frost bite on the roosters even while having a heat lamp and a ceramic radiant heater in the coop for them. It was COLD. I don't want a repeat so I'm thinking of insulating and adding one of those clear plastic doggie door flaps that amazon sells to the chicken door. But I'm on a very strict budget and the cheapest most decent insulation I can find to fit in my 2x3 walls is an unfaced R-8 fiberglass batt insulation (rolls). I figured I could staple that up to the walls and ceiling and then cover it with big pieces of corrugated cardboard. Eventually I'd be able to replace the corrugated cardboard with 1/4" OSB.
Also, ideas on insulating/weathersealing the human doors? My coop is a converted Lowe's wooden shed with wooden double doors- gaps all around and in the middle. Last year I tried the foam stripping, stapled the crap out of it, and it just all crumbled and fell off or was picked off. The one side I can seal shut for winter but the other side I obviously need to be able to go in and out of several times a day. Thoughts?
And another thought, my floor is just treated plywood with pine shavings on top, I wonder if installing linoleum on top the plywood would be of any benefit if there are any cracks between the plywood...
Also, ideas on insulating/weathersealing the human doors? My coop is a converted Lowe's wooden shed with wooden double doors- gaps all around and in the middle. Last year I tried the foam stripping, stapled the crap out of it, and it just all crumbled and fell off or was picked off. The one side I can seal shut for winter but the other side I obviously need to be able to go in and out of several times a day. Thoughts?
And another thought, my floor is just treated plywood with pine shavings on top, I wonder if installing linoleum on top the plywood would be of any benefit if there are any cracks between the plywood...