I want to get a chicken coop and im going through the list of materials in my head, which is very hardIs insulation a must? I hear that it keeps the coop 5-10 degrees cooler in the summer and 10-20 degrees hotter in the winter.is this true? Adn i also heard that insulation also acts as a sound proofDoes it really mute the sound in the coop? Also if i get insulation do i need a heat lamp? Im desperate! Thanks
Hi! You've made no mention of what sort of climate you live in which does make it a bit more difficult to answer the questionIf you are in a fairly temperate climate with no temperature extremes then you can probably get away without any insulation at all providing the birds are well sheltered from the elementsHowever if you are in a climate which is prone to quick changes of weather or snowfall than some degree of insulation can be a good idea- 6 mil polyethylene foam works well but it does add extra work as then you need to double wall the coop to make sure the chickens don't peck at it (place a vapor barrier alongside the inside wall as well)(Don't forget to provide adequate ventilation as well) If the walls and ceiling are well insulated this way then there is probably no need for a heat lamp other than for raising chicks however if you are in an area where there is a LOT of continuous snowfall or extended levels of cold (where you need to break ice off of water everyday) you should have one on handInsulation will mute the sounds from the coop a little simply because the walls are thicker and the sound has further to travelYou'll find that if you are just keeping hens that most breeds are fairly quiet anyway and just have noisy moments like when they are laying or when they are frightened.
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