re insulation-does it matter whether...?

[vermontgal]

Some chickens didn't survive, back in the day, but people then were less attached to their chickens than some BYCers are.

And, fewer people had really small flocks (3-6 chickens).

10-20 chickens put out a whole lot more heat than 3-6. And the ones on the outside edges still might have frozen occasionally.

I'll insulate. I'd rather insulate than pay for electric heat.

 

[wombat]

There's a reason I don't live in a smoky cave, huddled next to a fire all night too ...

 

[willheveland]

Quote:
Maybe not upstate NY but England,prior to Julius Caeser's first invasion in 55 B.C.

(just alittle trivia) Will

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Maybe not upstate NY but England,prior to Julius Caeser's first invasion in 55 B.C.

(just alittle trivia) Will

England and Scotland are still not that cold a climate, and it is quite possible that they took their chickens into the house for the winter (as was done with much small livestock in northern climates as recently as a few hundred years ago). (I'd be surprised if chickens weren't in Russia and Scandinavia at that time period or earlier, anyone know? )

Point is, it's not that it *can't* be done, particularly if you don't mind extra work and are flexible about how the results come out, but the chicken species has not exactly evolved with -20 F for most of its history, and there are a lot of benefits to insulation (without heat) and no downside, so if a person feels like it, why not?

Pat

 

[ARose4Heaven]

I bought 3/8 foil backed foamboard insulation yesterday, and plan to put it in my coop today, but only on the roof. My coop is an old hog feeder building that is mostly roof. But the sides will be un-insulated, and there is a roof vent as well as a loosely covered screen window. I would not have bothered with the insulation, but I want to keep em laying all winter. I have 21 birds in this coop. Here is a pic of my coop.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=24543&l=332965ed24&id=1675942885