Styrofoam

[MissChick@dee]

JLR...I too have a tiny coop. Basically a sleeping box. I have 4 hens. Just so you know I fretted over the winter temperatures.
True story last winter I only had one hen (sole survivor) she was naked....I mean naked & recovering from a terrible wound. She made it through just fine.
So I know she’s going to have a wonderful winter this year because she can snuggle up with flock mates.
My altitude is 4,460 ft. Single digits at times (I did bring her in on those days).
Keep them dry. And ventilation is very important. Chickens put off a lot of heat. And the moisture from their breath and bodies cause condensation especially on the roof which drips down on them making them wet and cold/colder.
Best wishes

 

[Birds of a Feather]

Chickens eat styrofoam.

 

[Folly's place]

As everyone said, ventilation is most important. If there's any dampness in the coop, it's not ventilated well enough. No dripping from anywhere!
The other problem with Styrofoam under plywood, is that mice and bugs will love to live there, and tunnel through it. Not good either!
If you want to insulate something, roof insulation really can help with summer sun heating the coop too much.
Mary

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

The other problem with Styrofoam under plywood, is that mice and bugs will love to live there, and tunnel through it. Not good either!

I didn't think about that. I'm raising mealworms on styrofoam, and they eat it completely up.

 

[aart]

I just figured sitting on styrofoam would keep them warmer from below. Like when you sit on a foam cushion when you are deer hunting.

Yes, it may keep the floor a bit 'warmer', just beware the risks.

 

[JLR]

As everyone said, ventilation is most important. If there's any dampness in the coop, it's not ventilated well enough. No dripping from anywhere!
The other problem with Styrofoam under plywood, is that mice and bugs will love to live there, and tunnel through it. Not good either!
If you want to insulate something, roof insulation really can help with summer sun heating the coop too much.
Mary

I am not worried about summer. It's the 25 below zero nights that might be the end of my chickens. Not worried about bugs or mice. The piece of styrofoam is only 1 inch by 12 inches by 15 inches and flat on floor. Easily removed for coop cleaning. No doubt it would keep them warmer since they would not lose heat on their bottom, but I will remove it just in case they want to eat it.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I am not worried about summer. It's the 25 below zero nights that might be the end of my chickens. Not worried about bugs or mice. The piece of styrofoam is only 1 inch by 12 inches by 15 inches and flat on floor. Easily removed for coop cleaning. No doubt it would keep them warmer since they would not lose heat on their bottom, but I will remove it just in case they want to eat it.

If it's that small just put a piece of sheet metal or wood over it. Cardboard might even work. Corrugated plastic (think soda signs at gas stations) would be perfect. In fact you could stack a bunch of those sheets to get a similar insulation effect. Easy to cut. They throw that stuff out when they do ad changes.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The floor of my coop is insulated but it's completely encased between layers of wood and then I have the entire coop skirted with hardware cloth on top of that to keep rodents out. If you really feel better about having the foam there, I would top it with a piece of plywood cut to fit, to minimize any chance of the chickens accessing it.

 

[aart]

The piece of styrofoam is only 1 inch by 12 inches by 15 inches and flat on floor. Easily removed for coop cleaning. No doubt it would keep them warmer since they would not lose heat on their bottom

Is that the size of your coop? Do they sit on the floor to sleep?

 

[JLR]

Is that the size of your coop? Do they sit on the floor to sleep?

It's the size of the elevated small compartment at the back of the coop where they sleep and lay eggs. The coop is about 3' by 6' I covered much of the lower area with 1/4 inch plywood to keep raccoons out. Left plenty of area open for ventalation.