Sound proof coop?

[Gopeckgo]

I live in the city and this year my neighbors have been using their leaf blowers for hours after dark. I have a camera in my coop and I can see how disturbed they are. I don’t have a clue what to do to help with the noise. Could I try a sound machine? I’m so frustrated with my neighbors doing this daily. I can hear it in my house over the tv so I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like for them. Any idea how to soundproof a coop?

 

[FunnyBunny89]

You can't "proof" it or the ventilation would suck. However, you can lessen the brunt of the noise with insulated walls and ceiling. I did that with my big coop because the metal roof is so loud in the winter, and the coop gets pummeled by wind during the winter months. It helped dampen the noise a lot! I used 3" foam pads that I got from Home Depot and cut to size. You lose 3" of depth all around but if the coop is big enough, it won't matter.

 

[Gopeckgo]

Thank you I think I will try this! How do you attach the foam underneath the metal roof ? I am not very handy

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Thank you I think I will try this! How do you attach the foam underneath the metal roof ? I am not very handy

Well, I don't have great discipline so I didn't insulate the entire ceiling you can see the white panel on the left is more recessed because it doesn't have any foam inserts, but the one on the right does. Basically, I just cut the foam inserts to fit snugly between the two by fours, and the one by fours that span the metal roof, and then I cut plywood to fit over it and screwed it onto the exposed one by fours.
For the walls, I just screwed half inch panels of plywood onto the exposed two by fours and tried to cover all potential air gaps. No insulation need there, the exterior boards aren't leakproof so I didn't want mold to develop in the insulation.

I hope that all makes sense! Obviously depending on your coop design, how you do it will likely vary.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Well, I don't have great discipline so I didn't insulate the entire ceiling you can see the white panel on the left is more recessed because it doesn't have any foam inserts, but the one on the right does. Basically, I just cut the foam inserts to fit snugly between the two by fours, and the one by fours that span the metal roof, and then I cut plywood to fit over it and screwed it onto the exposed one by fours.
For the walls, I just screwed half inch panels of plywood onto the exposed two by fours and tried to cover all potential air gaps. No insulation need there, the exterior boards aren't leakproof so I didn't want mold to develop in the insulation.

I hope that all makes sense! Obviously depending on your coop design, how you do it will likely vary.

I just remembered that I cut and added two by fours to place on top of the one by fours, screwed them into place, and then that's what the final panel screwed onto over the foam.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Keep in mind that chickens will eat foam if they can reach it, so if you don't have the clearance for it it's not really a good option unless you can cover it. Also depending on where and how it's installed insulation in general can also provide hiding spots for mites or rodents, if either of those have been issues.

With noise chickens should generally adjust to it. Mine come running to the fence when I have a leaf blower or lawnmower.