i have a very strange question?

[lynda66]

right, so i'm slowly building this chicken house, and as i'm trying to keep costs to an absolute minimum, ie nothing...... i've been thinking about insulation, yes i know they are chickens and probably don't need it, but hopefully i'm going to have some young chooks, going out into the big bad world with no mummy to keep them snug ....... oh ok i'm making excuses i want to keep them warm and the way the weathers been, who knows what winter is gonna be like....... soooooo i was kinda thinking, as there will be an inside and an outside wall, there will be gap of a few inches in between, so i could shove some insulation between, to make it really snug, the roof will also need to be insulated, as that is where the automatic water tank will be going.

so for the stupid question ....... i have 4 spare double duvets, and loads of old pillows, that i don't know what to do with (i inherited them off parents) anyway would duvets be insulating enough?? or should i get proper insulation?? i'd really like to put them to good use rather than chucking them.

[Hashette]

Hi Lynda, it sounds a nice idea. I don't know why I'm even trying to reply to this based on my - oooh let me think now - 16 days' experience of having chooks. I'll have a go, though, then someone who actually knows what they're on about can give you some better advice later on!

The only thing that struck me is that they need ventillation, which will send any heat retained by the insulation whilstling out of the vent. Mine are packed out with loads of horse bedding, it's either hay or straw or something, but according to the specialist poultry supplier I got it from, specially treated so that it doesn't form an equally snug bed for red mite. They burrow down in that, snuggle up together, and seem fairly cosy

[Two_Sheds]

Chickens have their own insulation ... it's called feathers.

Put your old bedding on FreeCycle; someone else will be really glad of them.

[Two_Sheds]

Here Lynda, I just Googled this:

Your chicken coop MUST be well ventilated! If you don't give your chickens enough ventilation, fumes can build up to a toxic level.
Vents, placed on the south or east side of your chicken coop, can help create proper airflow while also protecting them from cold drafts. Alternatively, drill large holes on the north & south sides of the coop where the roof meets the walls. To keep out wild bird visitors, which can often be carriers of diseases, cover these holes with mesh screens.


Coop ventilation goes hand-in-hand with coop insulation. Good insulation will help keep your chickens dry and warm in the winter, as well as cool in the summer. To keep the flock comfortable during cold nights (and during the hot summer days), invest in proper coop insulation.
1.5 inches of Styrofoam sheets between the walls (and ceiling) provides great insulation. For extra insulation during the winter, stack hay bales against the north walls of the barn. It's cheap, and when winter is over you can use the hay as litter then compost.

To reflect heat during the summer, many people use aluminum roofing and cover the walls with white paint.
Another way to cool the chicken coop is to plant tall plants around its exterior. If you do this, be careful not to let the plants block any ventilation holes and windows that you may have made. http://poultryone.com/forum/

[Noodle]

I think they would be ok without any insulation. As I have previously posted, my friends chickens roost in the trees at night, even when it snows!! For the chicks, put out some extra bedding for them to snuggle into.
If you really want to insulate it, use the duvets (I'd wrap the tank in them so it doesn't freeze) Then make ventilation holes through the tops of the walls.
If we've had a cold night, mine are all snuggled up together on the floor, it's during the day they don't like each other!

[Flummery]

I've read that more chickens die from over than underheating. I'd tend to make sure it isn't draughty in the body of the house but ensure that there's ventilation at the apex. We intend to have very small 'windows' at either end of the roof apex, covered with weldmesh to stop vermin entering.

Anyway, for you Lynda, that wasn't such a strange question - I'm sure you can do better than that!

[lynda66]

lol ...... thanks flum .... i'm sure i'll think of more when the time comes ...... the reason i havent freecycled them is that they are grotty .... mum and dad used to use them when camping, the kids also camped in the garden with them, and i can't get them in the washer.

the plan regarding ventilation is to add some vents round the roof edge, as there will be a foot ish overhang all round, they will also have the window and pop hole, my thoughts on it were to block up draughts through the walls, but add proper vents, so theres plenty of airflow. it's hard work this designing stuff you know

[Two_Sheds]

Don't be too proud to freecycle your tatty old bedding ... a dog home might be glad of them. You never know.

[Hilary B]

I wouldn't insulte those 'double walls' unless you can use stuff made for the job (and even then I wouldn't be enthusiastic). There is a risk of providing a nice snug home for a ratty family, and you REALLY don't want to do that near your hens! Old quilts are probably the most tempting thing you could use. The sort of fibreglass used for loft insulation is a bit better, but still dubious. Celotex (sold for insulating sloping ceilings) might be OK. Don't pack the insulation too tight, because there needs to be some ventilation in there as well. You might be able to scrounge either of the 'home insulation' materials if anyone has had stuff done recently. If you insulate the ROOF (and not the walls) you reduce the rodent risk, that is the direction most heat disappears, it may help keep things a bit cooler in summer, and all round might be a better option.
Oh, the other thing you could use (especially good for roofs) is a thin insulation which looks like a few layers of foil alternated with bubblewrap. It could even be put UNDER the roof as a ceiling. Unfortunately neither I nor my OH (a surveyor) can recall the name of it. If they are building non-domestic things near you, a few cups of tea might produce results......

[di]

Personally I@d not use the duvets.As Hilary says they could provide a rather tempting nest for unwanted lodgers,but also would it not go damp & rot?~possibly then causing all your excellent woodwork to rot also??I'd be more inclined to provide an additional little box type "bedroom" inside the coop for whilst they're little & develloping their feathers,after which I think they'll be hardy enough to survive without the insulation.Tough Cookies Chooks are!I may have been dreaming but seem to remember someone providing a stuffed toy for mummyless chicks to cuddle up to for warmth??

[lynda66]

ok i'll not use the duvets then thinking about it, the inside will be draught proof, so it's really only the water tank in the roof that i need to make sure doesn't freeze..... hmmmmm i've been looking at the building site for additions, think i'll have to have a word and see if they have anything

[lynda66]

.Tough Cookies Chooks are!I may have been dreaming but seem to remember someone providing a stuffed toy for mummyless chicks to cuddle up to for warmth??

i may have to go look for a snuggly chicken then

[snuffer]

Hello lynda66. I know nothing about keeping chickens. That said, the only thing I would be worried about when using old bedding for insulation is its ability to hold onto moisture. Unless you could be absolutly shore that moisture could not get into the cavity between the walls I'd be inclined to use something else (something made specifically for the job). Damp insulation may draw heat away rather than conserve it.

Only a thought. Good luck with your building project. HAVE FUN.

[Pumpkin Becki]

I have a sneaking suspicion that Red Mite would adore you duvet insulation - I wouldn't do it. Your ladies will be just fine.

[Johnny Appleseed]

Oh, the other thing you could use is a thin insulation which looks like a few layers of foil alternated with bubblewrap. It could even be put UNDER the roof as a ceiling. Unfortunately neither I nor my OH (a surveyor) can recall the name of it. If they are building non-domestic things near you, a few cups of tea might produce results......

One of the manufacturers of this multi foil is Actis. The product is Tri-iso Super 20. There are others. It is superb for insulation purposes - provided you follow the installation details exactly - otherwise it will not work. It needs a clear air space either side of the insulation for maximum effect.

Having said that, and having kept chooks for many years, I never insulated my hen house - and some winter mornings they stood on the entrance step looking bewildered at the white powdery stuff all around them. Their feathers are all they need as they are already wearing a living duvet.

No need to worry - they will be fine - just make sure they can get into some shelter and can still access food and fresh water as required.