Should I insulate my coop?

[kmclo55]

I've built a double walled coop with the intention of insulating. I have yet to put on the outside walls, but fall is coming fast and the job needs to be done! I bought caulking to minimize draft (for between the walls before I'd insulate), and am wondering if that would be enough?

I live in Ontario Canada where our temperatures can get as low as -40, and the summers are quite hot. The coop size is 4x6 with 3 nesting boxes, 36" off the ground, shingled roof, and will be switching from pine shavings to sand. I have 5 birds.

Also, I am a new chicken owner so this will be our first winter. My feathered babies are 16 weeks! TIA!!

 

[Mutt Farm]

Hi! Welcome to BYC!

I can't answer your question as I'm in Southern California,

but I can provide some links for you to browse if you haven't done so.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=Cold+weather+coops
https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=Cold+weather+coops&type=40
you might want to post on these threads to ask your neighbors for local husbandry suggestions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=Ontario+Canada

Also, it's fun to start a new thread in New Member Introductions so we can welcome you properly!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=new+member+introductions
I hope you find the answers you are seeking. Best of luck with your flock.

 

[kmclo55]

Awesome! Thank you! I'll check out those links, and head on over to New Member Intro's and introduce myself

 

[Blooie]

I've built a double walled coop with the intention of insulating. I have yet to put on the outside walls, but fall is coming fast and the job needs to be done! I bought caulking to minimize draft (for between the walls before I'd insulate), and am wondering if that would be enough?

I live in Ontario Canada where our temperatures can get as low as -40, and the summers are quite hot. The coop size is 4x6 with 3 nesting boxes, 36" off the ground, shingled roof, and will be switching from pine shavings to sand. I have 5 birds.

Also, I am a new chicken owner so this will be our first winter. My feathered babies are 16 weeks! TIA!!

I live in Northern Wyoming not far from Yellowstone Park. We can get pretty brutal here in winter but up where you are you have combination that we don't have - you also have higher humidity. So insulating or heating your coop could actually make things worse, since humidity and closed in areas are a very bad pair for chickens. I do neither here. The chickens have the perfect down and feather coat to keep warm air held in around their bodies, so as long as they are dry and out of the wind they usually do amazingly well. You are especially ahead of the game if you have cold-hardy breeds, but most any chicken (there are a few exceptions) come pre-outfitted with what they need. Your biggest issue may well be keeping water drinkable for them, but there are stock tank heaters, heated dog bowls, and black rubberized containers that will help you out there.

There is a group on here who are all from Canada. Try this link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/144/canadians-check-in-here

They will have answers for you more specific to your climate! Good luck!

 

[jimbob86]

Leaving spaces in the walls leaves spaces for pests to take up residence that are hard to access to get rid of them.

The chickens don't need to be kept warm so much as fed, watered, kept dry and out of the wind.


That was the impression I got from reading on coop construction on this site.

 

[Blooie]

By the way, I forgot to mention...good job on the links, Mutt! And welcome to BYC, kmclo55!

 

[Kung Fu Chicken]

Yes definitely.

Winter time they spend mostly inside.
Insulation can be written off on taxes as home improvement. Their home.
Who needs to know....hehehe

Insulate, line with plastic and it's easy to clean.

 

[jenniferr2871]

I cheated and purchased an Amish coop It is 6x6 with a metal roof. I was thinking of lining it with some insulation and plastic I have 5 bantam hens 4 isle reds 6 austrolorps and 5 baby 8 week old Americanas. Plus 2 silkies. I was thinking of a heat light and insulation I also have started my deep litter and wide roosting bars so their feet do not freeze. Can anyone advise me if I'm doing this right? It's my first winter with my flock

 

[kmclo55]

Thank you everyone for you replies! I think I may stick to my original plan of insulating .

 

[JackE]

Thank you everyone for you replies! I think I may stick to my original plan of insulating

.

Sounds like you had you mind made up, before you even asked. Insulation is a waste of time and $$$. in a chicken coop. The chickens, as already stated, come with PERFECT insulation of their own. Besides giving them a nice, dry, well ventilated coop, they need no extra "Help" from us, to keep warm in the winter. All you are really doing, is providing a nice hidden place for insect and rodent pests, to set up housekeeping of their own, from which they can come out and harass your birds at will.