Should I Insulate the Chicken Coop?
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | December 19, 2023
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When it comes to winter chicken keeping, questions like, ‘should I heat the chicken coop?’, ‘does the coop need to be insulated?’, and ‘how can I keep my flock warm this winter?’ always crop up. Choose your chicken breeds wisely and build your coop with winter in mind and you should have nothing to worry about with winter chicken keeping! However, knowledge is always your best ally. Knowing the best ways for keeping your flock safe and warm during the winter is essential. Insulating the chicken coop is a winter chicken keeping topic right up there with heating the coop, so let’s take a look and see if insulating the homestead chicken coop is necessary!
Does the Chicken Coop Need to be Insulated?
In most cases, insulating the chicken coop is not necessary. Coop location, size, and structure are more important for winter chicken keeping than insulating the coop. Following these coop ideals will prevent you from having to insulate the chicken coop:
- have the enclosure be facing the direction of the least severe weather
- have southern facing windows
- eliminate drafts around windows, doors, corners, etc…
- don’t install windows in-line with or opposite from roosts
- use sturdy, solid coop building supplies like wood
- avoid concrete or cement flooring since they take longer to heat up
Keep in mind regional considerations. Southern homesteaders shouldn’t consider insulating the coop at all. Even though the winters may get chilly, the summers will be much too hot for an insulated coop to be safe for your flock. If you are a northern or high altitude homesteader, it gets a little trickier. We’ll discuss situations when insulating the coop may be necessary in a minute.
However, chickens can handle cold weather much better than hot weather. And northern homesteaders should be choosing chicken breeds that are know to be cold hardy. Average winter weather that ranges from -10F to 30F+ is fine for chickens who are cold hardy and have a winterized (but not insulated) coop. Even winter weather that gets colder than that does not necessitate insulation. Instead, you can consider other ways to help your flock stay warm that will be more beneficial, effective, and less permanent.
Have more questions about caring for a homestead flock through the winter? Get our ultimate Winter Chicken Keeping ebook that will answer all your questions about diet, flock health, winter care, and housing!
Temporary Coop Insulation
One alternative to insulating the whole chicken coop is to use temporary insulators. Temporary insulators are materials that can be added when winterizing the chicken coop but then removed for the warmer months. The easiest temporary insulator for the chicken coop is straw.
There are two ways you can use straw as a temporary insulator in the chicken coop during the winter:
Straw Litter
Using straw as a winter litter in the chicken coop and/or enclosure is a great way to naturally insulate the coop. Straw is hollow shafted, which means it easily traps warm air. It is also compostable, and when the composting process is stimulated it will naturally generate some heat. Using the deep litter method, which commonly utilizes straw, can provide a low maintenance winter litter. It also naturally insulates the chicken coop. The deep litter method can be used in the chicken coop or in covered chicken coop enclosures. The straw will insulate the ground/floor and help the coop maintain a slightly warmer temperature than the outdoors.
Straw Bales
Instead of, or in addition to, using straw as litter in the chicken coop, you can also use whole straw bales. Placing or stacking straw bales around the chicken coop can help insulate the lower walls and block any low drafts. Straw bales that are placed around the interior of the chicken coop can slowly be used throughout the winter if you are using straw as litter in the coop as well. If you place the straw bales around the exterior of the coop where they are exposed to winter weather and precipitation, you should avoid using that straw inside the coop. Avoid using wet straw to prevent introducing more moisture or mold inside the coop. Always source your straw from a reputable source to avoid getting moldy straw, straw that harbors parasites, or chemically treated straw. Always get straw, not hay.
When to Consider Insulating the Chicken Coop
Insulating the chicken coop is almost never a necessity. In most regions, chickens can adapt to their surroundings and survive severe weather when other winter chicken care precautions are taken (think.. winterizing the coop, proper winter diet, etc..). However, you may consider insulating the chicken coop if you…
- have a large chicken coop and/or are housing less than 10 chickens
- are raising small, exotic chicken breeds
- are raising non-cold hardy chicken breeds in a cold region
- live in a region that experiences lengthy (6+ months) and severe (averages of -40F to 0F) winters AND cool summers
If you do decided to insulate the chicken coop, make sure you do so safely and properly. Styrofoam insulation should be adequately covered up to prevent the chickens from pecking at and eating the Styrofoam. You should also make sure the coop is not so tightly insulated that it inhibits good ventilation. A buildup of ammonia fumes or moisture is more dangerous for chickens than cold weather. Have ventilation windows near the roofline of the coop and don’t cover up windows (unless they are drafty) to help with ventilation in an insulated coop.
Keep in mind that insulation can also invite other unwanted critters into the coop. Rodents, and even parasites or other insects may be able to live in the insulation and present a health hazard to your flock.
Alternatives to Insulating the Chicken Coop
There are other ways to help your flock stay warm and safe this winter even without an insulated coop. Helping your chickens conserve body heat during the winter not only keeps them healthier, but also cuts back on winter feed consumption and the effects of cold stress. Here are some ways you can help your flock this winter without insulating the coop:
Winter Litter
Choose an appropriate winter litter for the chicken coop and/or enclosure. Using a litter that can trap heat, naturally insulates, and is compostable is extremely beneficial for winter chicken keeping. I use straw and large flake wood shavings in my chicken coops during the winter.
Eliminate Drafts
Eliminating drafts in the coop can go a long way in helping the coop maintain a warmer temperature. Remember, drafts are a one-way air flow. In contrast, ventilation, which is air exchange, should be maintained in the coop. Good ventilation will allow moisture laden air to escape and prevent any fumes from building up in the coop, both of which can be dangerous to your flock’s winter health.
Winterize the Enclosure
Winterizing the chicken coop enclosure will reduce the exposure your flock has to the winter elements (blowing snow, ice, wind chill). Setting up a wind block around the enclosure and using an insulating enclosure litter are two important ways to winterize the chicken coop enclosure. Using opaque contractors plastic as a wind block around the enclosure also lends a greenhouse-like effect to the enclosure. You may also want to check out these heavy-duty snowguard tarps for the chicken coop!
Winter Diet
Make sure you are customizing your flock’s winter diet to accommodate their increased energy needs for staying warm. Warm foods and high energy foods are always beneficial. Carbs and fats provide instant energy for staying warm. Protein provides a more constant source of energy and generates internal heat when it is digested.
Coop Location
Instead of insulating the chicken coop, pay attention to strategically locating the coop. A spot that is sheltered but is exposed to southern sun during the winter is ideal. Just make sure the coop is still shaded during the summer months too. Locating the coop on the leeward side of another building can provide a natural wind block and shelter from winter wind and weather.
For more ways on how to help your flock stay warm this winter, make sure you check out How to Keep Chickens Warm During the Winter!
For most homesteaders, insulating the chicken coop is not a necessity. Choose cold hardy chicken breeds who can adapt to winter weather. Strategically locate and build the homestead chicken coop so that is protected and draft-free. Using a natural insulator in the coop, like straw, is an excellent solution for insulating the coop temporarily during the winter. Feed your flock a good winter diet and winterize the chicken coop properly to help your flock stay healthy and warm this winter!
Need more advice on raising a healthy homestead flock through the winter? Make sure you join our modern pioneer newsletter community so you don’t miss any tips or tricks for winter chicken keeping!
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