Polystyrene Insulation

[mscher]

I'm planning a new insulated henhouse, using a solid, moisture resistant insulation sheet, sandwiched between a sheet of OSB and treated plywood.

Menards has the usual pink "extruded" foam and list "R" vlaues, but across the aisle, there is white "expanded" foam sheets about half the price. None of them lists "R" values.

The white sheets, are about 1/2 the price of the pink.

Enyone have experience with expanded foam insulation sheets, and can comment on what their R values may be.?

I have a very lean budget for this project, but want to do it right.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Polystyrene Insulation

The white styro if exposed will break down The pink and the blue are much tougher. They will (pink/ blue) survive the exposure....... If you have the white stuff above ground and protected it will work

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Polystyrene Insulation

The white stuff or "bead board" isn't water resistant like the high density closed cell rated board. The rated board can be used in exterior applications for foundation insulation in direct bury conditions. It is also used as a structural blockout material due to it's rigidity and compressive strength. If you are merely filling voids in a closed area either will be fine as long as long as it's well sealed. I'd also suggest the installation of a 6 mil poly vapor barrier to the exterior and interior stud faces to protect the insulation between. There's not an R rating for bead board typically, but if you intend to fill say the 3 1/2" inside a typical stud wall, it should be more than adequate. I bet the chickens will be very happy. No one likes a b*tchy chicken...

 

[roscoe]

Re: Polystyrene Insulation

My hens get a corner of the 14x20' 90 year old barn. It is mostly draft free, but not completely, as there are old windows, poorly fitting doors, a dog kennel door, and open eves in the mow area.

The hens do fine and only slow their laying when the daytime highs get below zero.
We have had a colder than normal winter up here, and have had frozen eggs many days this year.
But they keep on laying. As long as they have water and scratch grains, that is.

What I'm getting at is, I don't think you need to insulate at all.
I've never seen an insulated hen house up here in the tundra.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Polystyrene Insulation

To add to Roscoe's post. Chickens need ventilation. They put off a lot of moisture and noxious gasses.

The only things that affect their laying are food and light. You need to manipulate that once in awhile to force them into molt during which they don't lay or you'll have nearly naked, very tired, and not very productive chickens.

We've had some largish red laying hens that didn't seem to mind the cold at all. Modern leghorns will need a bit more protection.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Polystyrene Insulation

Animals are pretty amazing creatures. I had an old rancher tell me once when I was a kid that they will starve to death before they freeze to death so make sure they have food. I have always found that to be true, they are designed for the outdoors. Like any animal that remains in the cold they adapt and grow their own insulation. If you keep them to warm they will not do this and be more susceptible when exposed. I wouldn't insulate.

 

[mscher]

Re: Polystyrene Insulation

A chicken hen's laying ability can diminish, or stop all together, at temps below 40 degrees F. It is due to their natural instinct, not to lay , if it is too cold, for their fertilized eggs to incubate naturally, in a nest.

In an addition to reduced laying, cold tempratures cause hens to consume considerably more feed, to maintain body heat. Not a desirable attribute, with $7 corn.

With the current insulated (and ventilated) coop inside my barn, I was able to maintain 27 degrees during the coldest weather and about 38-40 most of the time. Egg production and feed consumption worked out much better than in past years, with out heat. Since I still have high ceilings, I have to use a heat lamp also.

No frozen eggs is a great plus also.

Huge commercial layer houses, are always insulated, but not heated, as the hens are close together and maintain warmth through their own body heat. They can maintain temps in the 60's and up. during the winter.

My goal is a portable house for 30+ hens, that can maintian 40 degrees throughout the winter, using solar or minimal heat lamp heat, or no added heat at all.

The more R factors I can get out of the walls and ceilings the better, but I want to minimize construction costs, which is why I was inquiring about the the cheaper foam insulation.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Polystyrene Insulation

Yikes, 2 dozen eggs a day.
My sister had 30 pullets last year.
I had 25 birds, but only 13 layers.
Down to 3 pullets and 1 hen right now.