Insulating a Coop

[MeoWusical]

Hello everyone!
I currently built a coop that I bought off of Amazon and it comes with a run. The coop is for my ducks, and I’m planning to get more. However, inside the coop itself is not big enough for 10 ducks, so I want to insulate the attached run, and get one more to attach and insulate as well, so they all have room to lay at night.
I currently have six girls and it’s the beginning of summer, so they are all happy with the current set up that I gave them, but when I have 10 I want to make sure they’re all comfortable and warm, especially in the winter.

My question is, what is the best method to covering up the mesh wire panels of the run? I was thinking of getting wood panels, a tarp, or plexiglass.
I don’t want to spend over $200, if there is a cheap and efficient way of doing this, it would be great if ya’ll could let me know!

 

[aart]

My question is, what is the best method to covering up the mesh wire panels of the run? I was thinking of getting wood panels, a tarp, or plexiglass.

Might depend on your climate.
Where in this world do you live?

....but no matter how you close it in, don't think that's enough space for 10 ducks.

 

[deer trail duck farms]

that's is not big enough for 10 ducks. but good news. ducks do very well in the cold mine have a heated coop and they rather sleep in the snowbanks... if you could just get some poultry mesh wire. and build off the run of what you got youd be fine.

 

[MeoWusical]

Might depend on your climate.
Where in this world do you live?

....but no matter how you close it in, don't think that's enough space for 10 ducks.

I live in southern Oklahoma, so the weather doesn't get too bad, but it can get below freezing some nights.
I’m only going to lock them in the coop at night, so they’ll have enough room outside during the day.

 

[Canadian Wind]

They won't need insulation then. Mine survive just fine in -50 in an uninsulated coop. Average temps here are below freezing, sometimes by a lot, for at least 4 months a year.

 

[MeoWusical]

They won't need insulation then. Mine survive just fine in -50 in an uninsulated coop. Average temps here are below freezing, sometimes by a lot, for at least 4 months a year.

Sweet ok, that’s good to know. I knew they were weather hardy but not that hardy would it be smart if I put a simple tarp against the mesh of the runs to keep the wind out? It gets pretty windy where I live

 

[Canadian Wind]

Sweet ok, that’s good to know. I knew they were weather hardy but not that hardy would it be smart if I put a simple tarp against the mesh of the runs to keep the wind out? It gets pretty windy where I live

Drafts are a different thing altogether. The coop will need good air flow without being drafty, especially since ducks are so messy (understatement of the year! )

 

[MeoWusical]

Drafts are a different thing altogether. The coop will need good air flow without being drafty, especially since ducks are so messy (understatement of the year!

Haha no kidding
Maybe if I attach the tarp to the mesh pieces, but left a gap on each one, it would keep the cold wind out, but let just enough in to air out the coop so they can breath.

I’ll also add another version of this and attach it to the other run when I get more ducks

 

[Edward7]

Can I hijack this thread to ask a question about insulating a chicken coop? Would R13 fiberglass rolls be safe to use, or would the dust be poisonous and get eaten?

My goal here is 100% for more SOUND ABSORPTION, not retaining heat. (I live in a temperate zone.) My rooster likes to CROW, sometimes at 4:30am, and I do not want any of my neighbors to hear it, as I'm only on a few acres.

The coop - a preexisting building - is made of plywood and 2x4 framing, with great big open spaces at the top of most of the walls for ventilation. There's also an overhanging roof.

When the young rooster began crowing, I added some "sound absorption panels" from amazon to the interior walls of the coop. These are hexagon panels that are intended to go in building interiors that are used by humans. However, they're only like 1/2 inch thick. They seem kind of puny in terms of absorbing the rooster's crowing, although I think they do help some. What's nice is they are odorless, non-toxic, and have zero dust.

I'm just wondering if there's any other type of material that would absorb sound that I could consider using. I assume that fiberglass insulation would shed poisonous dust, at least during installation, even if I installed it up above where the chickens can reach. And the dust would end up getting eaten over time, because I toss little dead black soldier fly larvae into the coop for the birds regularly, which gets mixed in with the wood shavings a bit.

Maybe if I got some thick cotton fabrics and hung them from the ceiling that might help a bit, and would be completely non-toxic.

Or maybe I should ask my closest neighbor if there's an issue in the first place, since I believe one of my other neighbors do not hear the crowing in the morning.

Hmm.

 

[aart]

My goal here is 100% for more SOUND ABSORPTION,

Won't work as a chicken coop needs copious ventilation, which would let the sounds out.