I now have only 2 buff orpington hens which are finally laying. Without the roosters they are friendly and seem very happy in the coop at night. It is going to freeze here this weekend in Oklahoma and I bought a 250 watt heat lamp bulb but think that will grill them. I tried a white 100 watt bulb but they stayed up all night. I tried a red bulb but it is only 25 watt. I found yellow bug bulb 90 watt and will install that in the metal cone shaped lamp which is above their heads upstairs where their laying boxes are located. They seem to perch to sleep at night not in their boxes.
Do you think one 90 watt yellow bulb will be enough when it is 32 degrees or below? Suggestions welcome!
I'm in North Texas and the other day it got down to 26 after it being in the 70's the day before. I got worried about them and put a heat lamp out there but mine didn't need it. They were in the twenty degree weather, wandering around the run like it wasn't cold outside at all.
I'm a newbie but I'm on the "don't heat" bandwagon unless you really, really need it. It's not worth the fire hazard. They won't need it for 32F. Just make sure they can lay cover their feet on the roost and maybe put some Vaseline on their combs.
I put an aquarium heater in their water though so the water wouldn't freeze. I may just bring their water inside next time if the freezing temps are only at night.