Regarding heat and chickens. Here is what my brain has come up with.
Heat rises.... Cold falls
I am building a box 6 by 4 by 4 feet. open only on the bottom (so basically an upside down box) Making it out of foam insulation enclosed in cheap birch panel and the frame of 2X2's. This will be suspended so that it is at least 18" off of the floor of the coop so chickens can easily enter from below.
Roosting rack of 2X2's inside that will be solid so no rocking or movement by chickens jumping up and moving about. Roosts will have at least 2 feet of head room so rooster can stretch out and up as needed for crowing.
Chicken heat should be all that is needed. I am going to put some drilled holes in the very top corners of the side panels to allow moist air escape as needed, and to regulate the heat a bit. I will put a high and low thermometer in there also so that I can get an idea how it is working at various temps. If a light is needed, one below the roosts should work (heat rises). Probably a low wattage incandescent would be plenty of heat. My goal is going to be to keep it above 45 overnight, and not warmer than 65 degrees.
I know that when I used to camp in the winter, I would always try to make my bed higher in the tent on really cold nights. Even in the tent, the heat would accumulate better at the top of the tent. An insulating blanket over me always worked just fine rather than piling on more blankets that didn't insulate well.
People who ice camp try to build a "sink" in the bottom of their bunker and the door entering from below, so that cold air can drop and go out. Hot air will accumulate above.
I think this should work out for the flock. Here's hoping!
