Hello and
You can make the choice to use the heat lamp in the winter. Just make sure that it is not so bright that the chickens find it hard to get to sleep.
However, chickens are surprisingly rather tough and can keep themselves warm even in bitterly cold temperatures.
This is a rather helpful thread...
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/21751/cold-temps
Explains that if the power goes out, your chickens might be more strongly affected by the cold due to sudden temp drop.
Anyway, don't hesitate to ask any questions you have bout your chickens, and enjoy the site.
Oh, thank you for the link! I'm sure that thread will come in very handy for me. I'll take your advice (and that of AnimalLover99) and set up the coop for the possibility of a lamp, but I will plan on letting the chickens fend for themselves and see how they do. We picked up some starter supplies for our chicks and will be constructing our brooder and then wait for them to arrive. I'm getting quite impatient, but I'll pass the time by reading all of the threads here.
Thank you for all the friendly welcomes!
ATM, 1 husband, 17 Columbian Wyandottes, 1 border collie, 1 chihuahua, 2 eclectic dogs (in other words, mutts), and 1 angry, angry cat, all on 6 acres in the beautiful oak savannah of SE Minnesota.
ATM, 1 husband, 17 Columbian Wyandottes, 1 border collie, 1 chihuahua, 2 eclectic dogs (in other words, mutts), and 1 angry, angry cat, all on 6 acres in the beautiful oak savannah of SE Minnesota.
