To insulate or not to insulate Nova Scotia coop?

[RebelEgger]

So we are starting our first coop build this weekend. My husband is back and forth on if we should insulate or not. We are on the south shore of Nova Scotia, we are not on the water but near it. Our winters are cold and damp. -20c I’d say or colder on some of our coldest days. We know we need ventilation and I’ve read the girls will keep themselves warm but still wondering what everyone thinks?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Insulation will not harm them lack of vetilation will it is personal choice draft not on them
many put roof sofets

 

[RebelEgger]

Insulation will not harm them lack of vetilation will it is personal choice draft not on them
many put roof sofets

Thanks Penny. This was my thoughts too but my husband was stressing about it so I thought I’d do a poll! Lol

 

[Alaskan]

So we are starting our first coop build this weekend. My husband is back and forth on if we should insulate or not. We are on the south shore of Nova Scotia, we are not on the water but near it. Our winters are cold and damp. -20c I’d say or colder on some of our coldest days. We know we need ventilation and I’ve read the girls will keep themselves warm but still wondering what everyone thinks?

I have an article on cold weather coop building that you might like. (Link in my signature line)

-20C is at the limit in my book, as to if you need insulation.

(But is the -20 with windchill, is the -20 the real temp but just a brief dip? Or is it -20 or more for a few weeks or more at a time?)

Insulation would be very nice, in my opinion needed, if you stay at -20 or below (real temp) for weeks at a time, or if you dip into the -20 regularly and have a bunch of wind as well.

The one huge issue though with insulation, is if you put insulation in the floor or walls... you need to build carefully to keep it rodent free.

It is much easier to insulate a roof... and keep it free of pests.

Also... it is a BEAR to keep the chickens healthy in cold temps with high humidity.

You need clean bedding, I highly recommend poop shelves lined with a feed sack. Then you can lift out the feed sack and pop off the poo, even when frozen solid.

Super wide perches, and safe landing zones from the perches are very important.


Also, do you already have the birds?

With my high ambient humidity and cold temps, I just can not keep comb points or wattle edges from freezing...

I have switched to breeds with less likely to freeze comb types etc.

Also feathered feet in damp snow! If you have any girls with feathered feet... roof the run completely.

 

[Rainwing]

if you have leghorns or other lightweight egglayer breeds you'll have to check their combs in temperatures like that. they can also have their toes fall off from frostbite.

i haven't had an issue with heavier breeds, such as my buff orpington hen who literally went missing in -23C weather during a blizzard and then returned 2 days later, completely fine except for a small frostbite scab on her comb lol. she wasn't in the coop or in any of the bushes around the yard. to this day i have no idea how she did that. 2 feet of snow.

my coop doesn't have insulation, just designed for ventilation but no drafts, and the heavier breeds fare well. the lighter breeds do good unless they have no friends to snuggle up with on a roost, so then i have to take them inside the house for cold nights.

 

[RebelEgger]

I have an article on cold weather coop building that you might like. (Link in my signature line)

-20C is at the limit in my book, as to if you need insulation.

(But is the -20 with windchill, is the -20 the real temp but just a brief dip? Or is it -20 or more for a few weeks or more at a time?)

Insulation would be very nice, in my opinion needed, if you stay at -20 or below (real temp) for weeks at a time, or if you dip into the -20 regularly and have a bunch of wind as well.

The one huge issue though with insulation, is if you put insulation in the floor or walls... you need to build carefully to keep it rodent free.

It is much easier to insulate a roof... and keep it free of pests.

Also... it is a BEAR to keep the chickens healthy in cold temps with high humidity.

You need clean bedding, I highly recommend poop shelves lined with a feed sack. Then you can lift out the feed sack and pop off the poo, even when frozen solid.

Super wide perches, and safe landing zones from the perches are very important.


Also, do you already have the birds?

With my high ambient humidity and cold temps, I just can not keep comb points or wattle edges from freezing...

I have switched to breeds with less likely to freeze comb types etc.

Also feathered feet in damp snow! If you have any girls with feathered feet... roof the run completely.

We got the birds Wednesday. We have EE and at the end of June I have. Blue australorp coming.
My intentions are to shovel out their run so it’s less snow for them to deal with.
The sack idea is great thanks you!
our temps fluctuate so much and with windchill can be colder.
I will pass all this on to the builder and see what he thinks. He says it’s just going to be ‘thrown together’ which, if I know my husband, it will still be nice enough for people to live in!

 

[RebelEgger]

if you have leghorns or other lightweight egglayer breeds you'll have to check their combs in temperatures like that. they can also have their toes fall off from frostbite.

i haven't had an issue with heavier breeds, such as my buff orpington hen who literally went missing in -23C weather during a blizzard and then returned 2 days later, completely fine except for a small frostbite scab on her comb lol. she wasn't in the coop or in any of the bushes around the yard. to this day i have no idea how she did that. 2 feet of snow.

my coop doesn't have insulation, just designed for ventilation but no drafts, and the heavier breeds fare well. the lighter breeds do good unless they have no friends to snuggle up with on a roost, so then i have to take them inside the house for cold nights.

Well that is one tough chicky you have! Wow! Well I hope I never have to worry about that happening.
I worry about them so much already and this is only day 3. I just want to make sure they have the beat home we can give them. Thanks for the comment