Spray foam insulation?

[123RedBeard]

I know in the beginning you said insulation was a priority ... and it seems you may be wavering on that now ... which I think is best for you to question now, not after you spend thousands of dollars ...

So let's get a little more information ...

1. What breed(s) of chickens do you have?

2. How many chickens do you have?

3. What are the actual dimensions of coop (feet/meters) legnth x width x height?

4. What is your expected coldest temperature?

I have seen my black sex-links doing just fine -20°f in an uninsulated coop in Vermont ... hardest thing you need to do in those conditions, is keep their water liquid.

 

[ChickenTenderKesha]

I know in the beginning you said insulation was a priority ... and it seems you may be wavering on that now ... which I think is best for you to question now, not after you spend thousands of dollars ...

So let's get a little more information ...

1. What breed(s) of chickens do you have?
I have Ameraucanas and then silkie crosses with 3 of the crosses being frizzled.
2. How many chickens do you have?
I have 10 (2 frizzles) in the main coop and 3 (1 frizzle) in the little coop
3. What are the actual dimensions of coop (feet/meters) legnth x width x height?
Rough measurements off the top of my head are:
Main coop (internal measurements in rough feet) 12’ X 6’ X 12’ very rough as I can’t recall measuring the height before
Little coop (external measurements but accurate in inches) 71” X 57” X 69”
4. What is your expected coldest temperature?
I was to say it can drop to -20C. This winter is set to be pretty bad. I’m at work right now but I’ll be back to go in depth
I have seen my black sex-links doing just fine -20°f in an uninsulated coop in Vermont ... hardest thing you need to do in those conditions, is keep their water liquid.

Answered in quote

 

[123RedBeard]

The frizzles "may" be a problem ... but, I don't really know much about them ... I'm not sure those funny feathers would trap in heat better, or let it all leak out!

-20°c = -4°f ... so not really all that cold ... and the climate changers are all warning us of global warming, and we will all over heat and die ... in a few years ... so invest in good insulation, and A/C for the coop!

The coops should be ok, seems to have plenty of cubic feet of air, so the ventilation can be slow, low presure type ...

 

[ChickenTenderKesha]

The frizzles "may" be a problem ... but, I don't really know much about them ... I'm not sure those funny feathers would trap in heat better, or let it all leak out!

-20°c = -4°f ... so not really all that cold ... and the climate changers are all warning us of global warming, and we will all over heat and die ... in a few years ... so invest in good insulation, and A/C for the coop!

What about a really good fan

Also I wanted to say I said that temp not including windchill which can get it down between -30s/-40s sometimes. Last winter I recall it getting to -35 at one point. I am right off a lake so I get really bad winds blowing from the west in the winter months. Thankfully there is another shed the same size that’s on the west side of my main coop (the little coop is placed on the east side of the main coop using it as a wind block)

 

[123RedBeard]

With the volume (cu ft) of your coop, and number of chickens, I don't think you will need lots of ventilation for winter ... as long as it is up high, the often quoted 1 cu ft of ventilation per bird depends alot on not only the volume of the coop, and how populated it is, but the winds that will blow through ...

But, as another person posted, if it is ventilated enough to remove moisture that the chickens create from breathing, and their poop, plus the amonia ... the heat will also be ventilated ...

Wind chill will not really have much, if any effect on the chickens ... it is a measurement on exposed skin that sweats (evaporative cooling) when it gets real cold, the chickens soon learn to tuck their head under their wing ... and your chickens all have tiny combs.

Not sure how much the fan will do you if it gets up to 150+ degrees ... save your pennies and get the A/C! Probably should put some kind of sprinkler system in the coop too, just so it won't spontaneous combust!