Insulation For Chicken Coops 2022 – What To Use And Why

You can enjoy the warmth of a nice fire made with the perfect wood for fire pits, as well as the comfort of cozy blankets. But, your backyard chickens may be out in the cold. Even if they have feathers, an extremely cold climate can still affect them. When temperatures drop below freezing at night, you may need to prepare your hens and their coop. 

An insulated coop is an excellent way to keep the inside of the coop warm. Proper insulation not only keeps your chickens warm. But, it also promotes improved egg production and minimizes your heating bills.

Here Are Some Ways To Insulate Your Chicken Coops

You’re probably in one of two scenarios. Maybe, you are planning your coop’s design before starting from scratch. Or, you may be considering how to insulate an existing chicken coop. If you already have a chicken coop, there’s a good chance you won’t want to start from scratch. If you’re worried that your coop won’t warm your chickens, here are some solutions to consider.

Bales of Straw

Straw bales are a great way to insulate your walls. You may already be using straw bales to insulate the chicken coop floor and nesting boxes. But, you may also fill the coop with straw. Chicken owners had used the deep litter method when they didn’t have any other options. 

Stack the straw bales against the walls and secure them with ropes or glue. Keep in mind that it is more challenging to install and may destroy quickly.

You might also use acceptable wood shavings/wood chips instead of straw for this reason. If you don’t have any other materials, you may use dried fall leaves or pine shavings.

Board Insulation

If you’re using foam board to insulate your chicken house, you’ll need to cut the boards to fit perfectly.

Cut, apply tape, or caulk to ensure that you seal everything completely. If you don’t, you’ll wind up with more air leaks and unhappy barnyard friends. 

For added insulation, cover the walls and floor with another material.

Fiberglass Insulation

The fiberglass batt or roll would be the ideal choice for a chicken coop or barn. Trim the fiberglass roll to fit into the walls, ceiling, and, if necessary, the floor. 

Do not push the fiberglass into the cavities, no matter how tempting it is. If you do this, you’ll have pockets where air can move inside your coop or barn. Remember that fiberglass won’t cut air movement. So you don’t want to worsen the problem. 

Staple the batts into place. You’ll want the paper or foil backing to face the interior of the coop or barn if it has one. Again, cover the entire wall and floor.

Cardboard Layers

Use those cartons to insulate your chicken coop. 

The first process is simple. Furthermore, the material is affordable and widely available. You won’t even need to buy it. It is something that you can find in any home. As a result, it can help you save money both now and in the future. 

The cardboard material prevents breezes and wind chills. It can also maintain heat within the hen house for your hens and eggs. 

Staple or tape the cardboard cartons or sheets to the four walls and the chicken coop roof. They not only keep the cold out, but they also keep the heat in. They work best when used in tandem with an electric heat source.

Shredded Paper Insulation

Shredded paper insulation is another inexpensive material that might fill up walls. You can also add these to the roof area of a coop or chicken housing. Of course, much like the loose straw and wool, you’ll need to find a way to secure this material. You can also use hessian or other natural material held in place with wood battens. Also, it may be a good idea to add more salvaged wood paneling to the walls to create a double-skinned structure.

It’s also a good choice if you buy recycled paper and have a shredder. All you have to do is keep two things in mind. To begin, make sure the ink on your paper is safe for your chickens. Second, you should replace them regularly. Paper absorbs a lot of water, and if you don’t keep an eye on it, you’ll wind up with a sticky mess in no time.

Old Fabric

Fabric is another excellent way to insulate and ventilate your coop. You can use your old sweaters or wool blankets. Why wouldn’t they keep your chickens warm if they keep you warm? But, finding them could be problematic. Sure, you may have a few on hand, but they may not be enough to cover the entire coop. 

Set up a donation camp or ask your friends for donations. You can, of course, buy new ones, but this may be too expensive. 

For a more efficient insulation approach, combine them with cardboard.

Styrofoam

Use styrofoam to insulate your chicken coop. 

Styrofoam is an excellent insulation material since it blocks out the cold temperature. It would keep your coop warm during the winter months. All you have to do now is pick it up from a nearby store. It’s even available at an art and craft or home improvement store. 

Glue down the panels on the roof and the four walls. Take note: Styrofoam is easily destructible. Your chickens may peck at it, causing impaction. Furthermore, they can disintegrate the substance. 

To prevent your chickens from pecking, cover it with a layer of another material. You can use newspaper or cardboard.

Sheep’s Wool

Sheep’s wool is also a fantastic insulator for a chicken coop. You can also insert sheeps’ wool into inset panels of your current coop’s walls. 

It’s also worth noting that you may buy wool insulation in rolls for home construction. It could be more expensive but could be a time and effort saver to consider.

Other Useful Ideas for a Well-Insulated Chicken Coop

Here are a few more suggestions for ensuring good insulation for chicken coop.

Burlap Bags

Burlap sacks are an excellent way to keep out cold drafts and breezes. Furthermore, when used around the coop, they act as an excellent insulator. They also help to lessen the quantity of snow that accumulates around your coop.

Use Moss to Fill the Gaps

Filling gaps between the planks or logs with moss improves the situation. Plugging up specific openings will assist keep the structure frost-free over the winter. It will keep your chickens happy and healthy as long as you have a good amount of ventilation.

Moss isn’t going to fill in the blanks. It may also live on the structure to purify the air. It would benefit the chickens’ fragile respiratory systems. Cut up some moss and mix it with some natural yogurt before spreading it on where you want the moss to grow. This moss may also aid in preventing heat loss via the roof structure in a minor way.

Don’t Forget the Windows

Finally, don’t forget about the windows when considering insulation for an existing coop. It does not have to be an expensive one. For example, you might cover the existing windows with translucent plastic panels. You can even use a layer of bubble wrap. You can also hang curtains around nests and outside the coop. Again, recycling things from your home is often doable.

The Importance Of Insulation For Chicken Coops

We need to insulate the walls while building a chicken coop properly. In the winter, this will keep the chickens warm. It will also keep them cool in the summer. The insulation will also aid in maintaining the coop’s ideal humidity levels.

Chickens can produce more eggs when they live under proper humidity conditions. The chickens will be dry by insulating the walls. When your hens are dry, they can survive the cold in colder climates. Insulating the walls will not only keep your chickens from becoming sick. But it will also keep them from producing eggs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Word

An insulated chicken coop prevents frostbite and maintains egg production stability. It can keep your chickens warm and comfy. Each of these approaches has advantages and disadvantages. But they are all excellent insulators. So, which one is the most effective? You make the final decision!