Chicken coop

Thanos

Hi folks,

I am thinking of getting a few hens for laying but first I need to build a coop for them. I have a good idea of what it will look like and how to build it but I do have one question.

Do you need to insulate it?

I know it can get a bit cold in the winter sometimes but at the same time it could get hot during the summer.

Any and all advice would be great, especially from anybody who has built one before.

bbam

Thanos wrote: »

Hi folks,

I am thinking of getting a few hens for laying but first I need to build a coop for them. I have a good idea of what it will look like and how to build it but I do have one question.

Do you need to insulate it?

I know it can get a bit cold in the winter sometimes but at the same time it could get hot during the summer.

Any and all advice would be great, especially from anybody who has built one before.

Nope..
No insulation needed.

maxxuumman

Keep the part where they sleep appropriate to the number of hens that you plan getting. Too big and it will be cold for them in winter.

micraX

We insulated ours with acquired election posters.

Genghis Cant

When we had hens we never insulated the henhouse. But insulation will keep it cool in the summer as well as warmer in the winter.

Iyaibeji

Ventilation is more important than insulation.
Generally hot weather poses more risks to chickens than cold weather.

They expell a lot of moisture when they respire and if there is not enough ventilation at the top of the coop it condenses and then is at risk of freezing during cold nights.

Best to have the coop up off the ground to stop rats from burrowing under to nest.

From what I remember recommend coop size is 4sq foot per bird, and 10sq foot per bird run size.
One nest box for every 4 birds.

Farmer Pudsey

There is a few good poultry books taht you can get Katie Thear wrote one .