How to insulate the floor in the chicken coop for the winter
Hello.
This year we moved to a country house and decided to get our own farm. We decided to start with a bird, so I want to ask whether it is necessary to insulate the floor in the chicken coop for the winter and how is this best done?
Katia.
Answer
Hello, Catherine!
The proper maintenance of poultry in the winter should be taken care of even at the stage of construction of the chicken coop. So that the floor does not freeze even in the most severe frost, it is made multi-layered. The base is insulated with expanded clay or plates of extruded polystyrene foam, on top of which a thin layer of concrete screed is arranged. This method will not only make the room warmer, but also greatly simplify bird care. For example, common wooden floors tend to absorb manure, so cleaning and drying them takes a lot more time.
Particular attention in the cold season is given to litter on the floor. Unlike the warm period, when a thin layer of covering material is used, in winter you need the so-called deep litter up to 20-25 cm thick. You can use wood sawdust or shavings, straw or hay, as well as peat moss.
The first option, as well as the last, have the ability to absorb moisture, providing dryness in the chicken coop. If you decide to use shavings, then choose coniferous wood processing waste - in addition to good thermal insulation and moisture absorption, they also have a disinfecting ability. At the same time, note that the bird will certainly take the opportunity to peck the sawdust. To prevent such a danger is very simple by laying on top of a thin layer of dry plant residues.
As caking and moisturizing, the litter should be restored with a thin layer of hay or straw - it will take longer for the bird to compress it. In addition, plant residues have a thermal insulation ability unattainable for other covering materials, so the paws of your chickens will always be dry and clean.
In order to always have a healthy atmosphere in your house, be sure to take care of good air exchange. The most complete information on how to make ventilation in the chicken coop can be found here:https://aquatech.tomathouse.com/en/ventilyaciya/ventilyatsiya-v-kuryatnike-svoimi-rukami.html
