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Do I need to insulate my chicken coop?
One of the most common questions people ask is whether
or not a chicken coop needs to be insulated.
Horizon Structures' coops are NOT insulated for several
reasons.
First, because we ship throughout
the continental United States, there are many areas
that would never need insulation as the winters are
very mild.
Second, while we wouldn't call ourselves "chicken
experts", we don't believe the coops need to be insulated.
There are as many opinions on this subject as there
are breeds of poultry and we recommend that everyone
research the matter for themselves and choose the option
that is best for their situation and their birds. The
information we found on the subject seems to support
the fact that insulating your coop is probably unnecessary.
Many chicken breeds are very cold hardy. Especially
the larger breeds with ample feathers. You may be surprised
to discover just how well most birds tolerate extreme
cold. They will huddle close together in their nest
boxes or on their roosts and keep each other warm during
the coldest winter weather.
Providing your flock a coop that is:
- DRY
- WELL VENTILATED
- and FREE FROM DRAFTS
is much more important than insulating it.
Here are easy suggestions we found online that can provide
extra winter protection for your chickens at little or
no cost.
Position your coop to take maximum
advantage of natural sunlight (and heat).
* usually, a southern exposure works best.
Stack bales of hay against the northern side of the
coop and along the sides.
* use the hay as litter / bedding in the spring!
Put extra deep bedding on the floor - especially if
your coop is elevated
Make sure your coop has adequate ventilation. Remember,
moisture inside the coop is a problem. Especially in
the winter. Don't insulate an unheated coop because
moisture will build up inside.
If you want to insulate your coop a safe material to use
is 1.5" styrofoam sheets. If possible, these should
be placed BETWEEN the walls/siding and the ceiling/roof.
If you can't do that - don't worry. This material is non-toxic.
If your chickens happen to peck at it and ingest it, it
should pass right through without harming them.
Usually a simple light bulb can provide enough heat and
a large heated dog dish is enough to keep your chicken's
water from freezing.
NOTE: Extreme
cold may cause your chickens to (temporarily) stop laying.
Check out the forums on:
www.poultryone.com
www.thetreeofliberty.com
How big should
my coop be?
This is another very common question
and, again, there are many opinions on the matter. All
our coops have a "suggested" bird capacity which
is a good place to start.
Make sure to consider the breed/size of your chickens
and how much time they will be spending penned inside
the coop.
Here's a handy guide we found on www.poultryone.com:
Minimum
Space Requirements for Poultry |
Type
of Poultry Bird |
Sq. Ft.
/ Inside Coop |
Sq. Ft.
/ Outside Run |
Bantam Chickens |
1 |
4 |
Layer Hens |
1.5 - 2 |
8 |
Large Chickens |
2 |
10 |
Quail |
1 |
4 |
Pheasants |
5 |
25 |
Ducks |
3 |
15 |
Geese |
6 |
18 |
In order to provide coast-to-coast
delivery of our coops (and coop kits), we
MAY require the services of a commercial carrier.
This means that your coop MAY arrive via a large tractor
trailer truck.
Please call us at 888-447-4337 if you have concerns about
the truck accessing your property.
We will work with you to the best of our ability to make
the delivery; however, your
assistance may be needed in some instances. |
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