*update* EPIC FAIL: Winterizing (new pics on post #30)

[nurse_turtle]

Use feed bags. Cut them open to their largest area and staple.... works really well, is free, and the chickens don't feast on it.

 

[SteveBaz]

I put a mirror one day against the coop so they could see themselves and they attacked it!!! I thought it was weird until my wife said I think they saw another gang of birds and they were fighting them. I removed the mirror. OMG. I think they see the reflection and they attacked it? You think?

 

[EggyErin]

Well, of course! Wouldn't you?

 

[johndrean]

I was thinking of covering the gaps between boards with feed bags too, but then someone gave me the idea of using Gorilla Glue brand Duct Tape! So far its working very well!

Duct Tape can fix anything!

I feel your pain.
We had the exact same problem. At first I was worried about any ill heath effects, but that quickly melted away to frustration then exasperation when they cleaned out all the foam that was exposed. I guess my eggs can't be classified as "organic".

After replacing it, we duct taped over it too, and haven't had problems since!
In another area, we stapled clear painters plastic over, and its kept them out of that area too.

 

[tennesseeckn]

We bought lattice strips by the bundle. It cost less than the price on this page. We used old decking board as siding and the strips give it the appearance of board and batten. I also used brown caulk where the old boards were warped and the strips didn't lay flat.

You can see pictures of what my coop looked like before adding the strips on my BYC page.

 

[nuchickontheblock]

You probably don't need insulation. Many of us up north don't insulate or use any heat lights.

 

[smalltownchicks]

Same EXACT thing happened to me last week!!! I just painted plywood and then covered the partly chewed up insulation.

Pain in the butt! My girls are fine and didn't suffer any ill effects from the insulation.

 

[eggscetera]

Yeah - they love pecking blue board and foam insulation. You have to cover it somehow if you're planning on insulating with it. I really like to idea of stapling old feed bags to the walls. It got to 10 below last night. I left the light on all night (100 watt) and nobody froze to death but I'd like to insulate a little better. The wind is howling right now and it's going to be another cold one tonight. I wish it would warm up.

 

[EggyErin]

WARM UP?

It's only just begun....

 

[DazeGoneBy]

Finished the new winterizing effort today!

We didn't put on insulation board, just covered the cracks with what hubby calls "backer board" used for cabinets. Didn't paint it, yet, but we might do that later.

Kept the silver foil insulation board up high where they can't reach.

While we were at it, hubby did some other mods. He removed the branch ladder he'd built to the coop pop door, and replaced it with a front porch (thanks to ideas we found here on BYC!) and a side ramp. The old ladder was right in the center of the run, and was in the way for food/water changes. Plus when they got frisky, they didn't really have a stretch to run in the run. Also added a chain to the carabiner so we didn't lose it when we opened the door.

Here they are so confused that the bottom of the coop is gone (it is a sliding drawer we can remove to do a quick clean out).