To insulate or not to insulate?

[Roosterboy]

I pan to make a small coop for 4-5 chickens. I live in central New Jersey and the temperature is very different at different times of year. I am not really worried about temperature but the sudden rises and falls of the temperature. I want to know if i should insulate and if so what to use

 

[VT Chick-lit]

I live in northern Vermont and I have insulated my coop. This is my first winter with chickens and since it can get to -40 below wit a wind I thought it would be best. I do not plan to have any electricity in my coop which is 4X5 with 4 hens. I thought their body heat and an insulated coop would be enough. I will moniter the coop temp with a digital thermometer with a memory to get some idea on how cold the coop gets. The insulation was a compressed foam insulation that is used to insulate foundations. I knew several people who had some leftover from building their houses. Since my coop is a framed coop with studs the compressed insulation is covered and cannot be pecked at by my hens. I put in two 6 inch vents, one on either end of the coop by the peak of the roof for ventalation. Hopefully this comstruction will be adequate. Hope this helps.

 

[Roosterboy]

What did you use?

Does anyone know anything that isn't to pricey?

 

[willheveland]

I don't insulate.Keep them high,dry and out of the wind.They know how to fluff their feathers to keep warm.Just keep their roosts wide so they can sit down over their feet and keep them warm. Will

 

[cmom]

My coop is partially insulated with foam board . Anywhere the chicken can get to, is covered with thin plywood. I do this to help keep the coop cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The coop is in the shade in the summer and in sun in the winter. I do have my coop well vented.

 

[patandchickens]

You don't need to insulate, but it is always at least mildly a good thing if you happen to feel like doing it.

The cheapest insulation is... drumroll please... whatever you can scrounge

If you have to pay cash money at the hardware store, I think fiberglas batts are going to be cheapest. Some people are trying lots and lots of plastic grocery bags filled with styrofoam packing peanuts, fwiw. Sawdust is a traditional insulation but you'd need to be really REALLY REALLY confident that no moisture will ever get into your walls, like thru leaks at the edges of your siding or windows, or drifting in thru minute gaps under the eaves, b/c if sawdust gets damp it will rot out your main coop structure and that's no good at all

Most of the above have some capacity to become a mouse farm; rigid foamboard is least susceptible to that.

Pretty much all of the above will need to be covered by something peckproof on the inside, so chickens don't eat the stuff and get sick.

Good luck whichever you decide, and have fun,

Pat