CHICKEN COOP: Day 6

In preparation for this project I spent a big chunk of time researching cold hardiness in chickens. After wading through a sea of blogs, forums, and books, it was clear that an insulated coop was the way to go, but the best type of insulation remained a quandary. Perhaps second only to egg laying, chickens are known for their pecking and it seems nothing is off limits, including each other. Assuming they would also love to peck at insulation, what material would be the best choice for such a small space?

Initially, the plan was to insulate with batting and cover it with a vapor barrier and scrap wood, but now I see two clear problems with this: weight and cost. Thinking back to the initial list of goals for the coop, portability is a priority. At this point in the process the coop is MUCH heavier then I had originally hoped, so adding more wood is out of the question. And since I'm low on scrap lumber more wood equals more money, the outflow of which I'm trying to keep to a slow trickle. Of course there are a couple other insulation options to consider: foam insulation board (but it would also have to be covered) and Reflectix radiant insulation (could a bunch of hens resist pecking at something so shiny and silvery?)

Eventually my thoughts led me back to an evening I spent picking cherries at Holy Terror farm in Paonia, Colorado. The night started with a tour of the farm and included a peek into their wagon-style chicken coop. When I asked how they keep their flock warm in winter the farm owner said she insulates the coop by tucking straw behind simple chicken wire attached to the walls. I thought the idea was genius since straw is renewable, compostable, and won't harm the chickens if pecked at. But, I also wondered if it would be warm enough to stand up to Alaska's winters? On the other hand, I use straw in my dog's kennel during winter to keep her warm in the back of the truck, and it's the chosen insulator for professional dog mushers in AK, so I decided to go ahead and give it a shot with the chickens.


CONSTRUCTION STEPS Day 6

So it was off to the local feed store for a bale of straw and some chicken wire. I used wire cutters to trim the chicken wire down to size and a staple gun to affix it to the studs. Most staples required a bit of encouragement from a hammer before they were secure, but otherwise it was a fairly easy process. Straw was tucked behind the chicken wire inbetween the studs and around any obstacles, such as the upstairs/downstairs nest  boxes:

Dry straw and a hot lamp could make for a fiery mess, so at the peak of the roof I went with a layer of insulation (donated by friends) and a small amount of the previously mentioned Reflectix.

 I also painted a few stars to liven up the front, and gave the entire coop a coat of protective wood treatment. The stars came from a craft store and the paint was a $2.50 sample from The Po. I've got more decorating to do, but for now the coop is in place and awating the construction of the chicken run.