Hello All!
I am a newly registered forum member and I am new to chickens, though not to birds (or animals, or farms for that matter). We are the proud parronts (parrot parents, LOL) of two Indian Ringnecks and one Alexandrine. (Google search them, they are Gorgeous!) My previous parrot experience has given me extensive knowledge in the healthiest, safest and most rewarding bird husbandry. I think these skills will benefit me while venturing into keeping chickens.
We are on a 10acre "hobby farm" (I hate that term, but havent invented an alternative as of yet, LOL) and we keep our animals for the love, companionship and rewards of ownership, not to profit off of them in any way. Obviously we gain fresh food and compost from them as well, so its a win win situation. With spring in the very near horizon, we have selected four chicks (thats right, only 4) of cold hardy breeds (2 Buff Orpingtons, one Mille Fleur and an Easter Egger) and have them in a home made brooder at the moment, while we make preparation for thier transfer outside.
I have done TONS of research for months on the proper care of laying hens, and have found this forum, as well as a few others, a great resource for experienced, informative answers to a variety of questions.
Though, my husband and I are having a debate when it comes to the erection of our homemade chicken coop.
Now for the Issue!
I have read in many places that while insulation is not Required, it can be beneficial to egg laying hens in the winter months for various reasons. We are the type who like to keep our animals in the most comfortable living conditions we can afford, so after looking into it, we feel insulating is the best option. That, or keeping the hens in the house, which I can assure you my parrots would NOT appreciate, LOL We live in Southern Alberta, Canada, where we have winters that can stay in the Minus 45 Degrees Celcius range for weeks on end. We are also located close to the Rocky Mountains, so we have quite the windy location, all seasons.
Our coop will be located in a fenced in run/pen area attached to our garage (with no access to the garage). The pen is about 55 Feet Long, by 20 Feet Wide and 6 Feet High. One side has 55 feet of garage/shop as a wall, and the other side has thick foliage for windbreak, the entire hight of the pen and more. The two ends (20 feet) are open to the elements with wire and wood fencing.
We intend to build our coop on stilts, and insulate with styrafoam. There will also be a light fixture with a 100 watt light bulb for extreme conditons. The debate is this: I have read that with insulation, Ventilation is even more important than when you have no insulation. That without proper ventilation, insulating your coop can trap moisture (and fumes) and actually promote frostbite, etc.
But my husband is absolutely adamant, that if he is going to the trouble of insulating the coop, he would be removing all benefit of said insulation by putting in ventilation around the roof of the coop. He feels wind and cold will simply travel into the coop through the vent spots and make the coop cold regardless of any insulation. I believe he is basing this off of his knowledge of home insulation, which is by no means similar.
My Questions!
Is this true? If not (and I am right) how can I simply explain to him the way the logistics of this concept works? Ive been given the impression from many books and forums that vents do not affect warmth of a coop in winter. Would you need larger than average vent spots with an insulated coop? Would building overhangs around the vent spots adequatly prevent wind and elements from seeping into the coop? Or would overhangs prevent adequate ventilation?
Also, what about the door? Wouldnt any wamth in the coop seep out when I open the door in the morning? And for easy cleaning, our coop will have one whole side wall that will swing open so I can sweep/rinse out the coop efficiently. Wont all the warmth escape at this time as well?
LASTLY, Im curious how Automatic doors have worked for people. All the websites that sell them, say they protect the coop from predators and such, but I worry that it would close at night, and lock a stray hen out with the predators! My husband is an electrician, and he can actually set up a sensor that can open and close the door when a chicken nears it, but then I suppose the same would work for predators, LOL
Thanks in advance for your experienced info, and I apologize for being long winded, its a nasty habit of mine! LOL
