what do you use to insulate with

[davekrista]

We were working on insulating our coop, which is a run down old shed we converted. We're fixing it up and started to insulate with the blue foam stuff. The 2.5 - 3 inch thick with a decent r-value. We got about 1/2 of it done in one day and the next day, we noticed the chickens were pecking it. So we decided to see if it was just because it was "new" and we waited about a week. Now all the foam we put in are falling out because they pecked it so much, there are like big holes in them. We need to use something else, and my husband was thinking the foil backed stuff but not really sure if they will peck through that too... what are you using for your insulation?

 

[Judy]

If you are going to insulate you will have to cover the insulation -- you have already learned why. Chickens peck everything. People use all sorts of stuff, including a couple of layers of bubble wrap.

 

[patandchickens]

Yup, just take whatcha already got (the blue foam) and cover it with thin plywood or recycled panelling or really anything peckproof and moisture-resistant. You can patch any large holes or missing pieces (due to chicken activity) with that expando-foam-in-a-can, first.

And then you'll be fine

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[t&a]

Yup. Same thing happened to us, except that it was pink foam rather than blue. Kinda upset me also, cause it was on the expensive side. We ended up doing what everyone else here has said already which is cover up all the insulation with plywood. Other thing that concerned me was the bedding which we usually compost. The idea of eating styrofoam and fiberglass didn't exactly appeal to me, so once it was all done, I emptied out all the bedding/poop/and scraps of insulation and brought it all to the dump.

 

[Vanessabuffsnsilkies]

All those old feed bags can cover the foam insulation or just nail/staple them inside the coop. Just tacking up the feed bags inside one of my coops made quite a difference.

 

[math ace]

I am in Florida, so I don't need very much insulation. I use cardboard. Staple it to the walls of the coop.

Also, use it as a wind break on my bitty cage.
We don't get much rain in the winter, so I don't have to worry about the cardboard getting wet.

 

[Tdub4chiks]

My girls pecked through the silver insulation too, before we had a chance to put the walls on. You have to cover it or they will eat it.

 

[LynneP]

You can see what we did here-

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=7693-Coop_Insulation

 

[speckledhen]

One of my coops is double walled with air space filled with plastic Walmart bags. Had to find something to do with 'em! It works. Even just a dead air space has some insulating value.

 

[Where The Wild Things Are]

Chickens LOVE styrofoam, so ditto on what others have suggested. You have to cover it.