Do chicken coops need insulation?
I want to get a chicken coop and im going through the list of materials in my head, which is very hard. Is insulation a must? I hear that it keeps t...
I want to get a chicken coop and im going through the list of materials in my head, which is very hard. Is insulation a must? I hear that it keeps the coop 5-10 degrees cooler in the summer and 10-20 degrees hotter in the winter…is this true? Adn i also heard that insulation also acts as a sound proof. Does it really mute the sound in the coop? Also if i get insulation do i need a heat lamp? Im desperate! Thanks
Additionally i live in connecticut so its a mild climate. Never too cold or too hot
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Hi!
You’ve made no mention of what sort of climate you live in which does make it a bit more difficult to answer the question. If you are in a fairly temperate climate with no temperature extremes then you can probably get away without any insulation at all providing the birds are well sheltered from the elements. However if you are in a climate which is prone to quick changes of weather or snowfall than some degree of insulation can be a good idea- 6 mil polyethylene foam works well but it does add extra work as then you need to "double wall" the coop to make sure the chickens don’t peck at it (place a vapor barrier alongside the inside wall as well). (Don’t forget to provide adequate ventilation as well)
If the walls and ceiling are well insulated this way then there is probably no need for a heat lamp other than for raising chicks however if you are in an area where there is a LOT of continuous snowfall or extended levels of cold (where you need to break ice off of water everyday) you should have one on hand.
Insulation will mute the sounds from the coop a little simply because the walls are thicker and the sound has further to travel. You’ll find that if you are just keeping hens that most breeds are fairly quiet anyway and just have noisy "moments" like when they are laying or when they are frightened.
"Im desperate" if that does it for you then get meds.
we have a coop and we didn’t do anything we just put up walls, a door ,a chicken door to a rub, nest boxes and perches.
if you think they going to get to cold in the winter put in a heat lamp then if you really think they to bad slap some insulation up
(like chickens die from the cold)
hope this helps
I live in CT also. I am from the West Coast. Even in a climate more moderate "CT winters are not moderate" we provided heat lamps when the temp was freezing. Moderate is above freezing. We learned the hard way. In a coop without insulation or heat all the birds crowded together so tightly that the chicks caught in the middle either suffocated from the pressing of the others for warmth or ended up with brain damage from lack of oxygen in the tight knit of birds. It is your call.
Hey Margaret,
To build a chicken coop, you can find a free blueprint over at http://www.BuildAChickenCoops.com .
This shows you everything you need and the exact steps you need to take to build a chicken coop for your hens and roosters.
I hope I’ve helped
- James.