How do you heat your coops

[Bulldog6]

Looking to get some type of heat source in the coop for this winter. Wondering what other are using. I have been looking at

infared heat bulbs (no light)
the heat lamps like in the brooders

or is it better to use

the heated mats
or radiant wall heaters

Coops is probably around 50-60 sqft with 10-12 hens

 

[karlamaria]

You must realize' if you heat the coop your chickens are Lilly to get sick. From a warm coop to a cold out side makes for a bad combination. A good insulated coop and a nice covered run will keep them wonderfullyx all winter. I use carpeting on there roosts and I use 2 by 4 's so they have a nice roosting surface to sit on. All carpeted with very low pile there comfortable and can sit on there feet and there feet stay warm on the carpeting. My run has a covered roof, we completely cover the sides ( this year using heavy plastic stapled on) and a cut to fit plywood sheet over the door to keep wind and snow out. We used tarps last year but it was hard to keep snow off the top so we had a roof put on and it's going to be so much better.the plywood covering the doors is held in place by a long stretchy bungee cord. My chickens did wonderful with the snow and wind blocked. There coop was much warmer also. With a totally dry pen, and wind proof, there much more warmer . We used a dog kennel panels last year and used zip ties to tie on tarps, but this year we decided to add a roof and hard wire pen because we were forever trying to keep snow off the tarps so the roof would not cave in. I. Decided when spring came I was going to make it easier n my self and have a new pen built, and use clear plastic for more light. I can not tell you how much better it is for my girls to not have to be in the wind and snow. And have a roost covered in carpeting . They do very very well.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Coops don't need any heat at all other than to keep the water from freezing.
The chickens can stand cold as long as they are dry and out of the wind

 

[JackE]

Carpet on the roosts, I don't even want to think about cleaning that mess after a couple of weeks. What good does insulation do in the winter, if the coop is properly ventilated? And by ventilation, I'm not talking about a couple of 2X6" floor grates. The chickens have perfectly good insulation of their own. It's really funny to me, that people put their own limitation of handling cold weather, on their chickens. When in reality land, the chickens are well suited (Literally) for the cold.
How many tales of woe will we read about this year, about burned down coops, and all the chickens in it, due to a stupid and unnecessary heatlamp. Or about some poor frosted up birds, due to being kept in a near airtight box in some misguided attempt to "Keep them warm". Bottom line, they don't need any added heat from us, And they don't want some well insulated, poorly ventilated box to live in.
Jack

 

[karlamaria]

chickens molt in winter, we are extreme weather and what works for you is all about you. we seem to like to love on our girls and we think they need to be comfortable and well thats our choice. as far as mess on my roosts, well Jack my roosts are clean and always clean. not sure how your roosts are but mine stay clean. take a look. and yes my coop is clean all the time !!! and I chose to insulate the walls and floor of my coop, and for you what ever blows your hair back. I think its cruel not to at least keep the girls in a decent coop . I say do what you like I will do what I like . see any poop there jack?? well that roost has been carpeted for 5 months now, never scooped poop or cleaned it. I say its just fine ! this coop holds ten girls. I just choose to keep on top of the poop and am always scooping the poop board and cleaning litter. but my roosts, I have never had to touch yet. I have the same roost on the other side of my coop, carpeted to, been there for over a year, not a drop on it. no mites, no bugs no poop. and my coop is well insulated with windows, and a ceiling ventilation cap. never had a problem with ventilation or frozen combs, for that matter. my run, its also weatherized for winter, yep we make sure our girls have it good, and there for there healthy and happy hens.

Carpet on the roosts, I don't even want to think about cleaning that mess after a couple of weeks. What good does insulation do in the winter, if the coop is properly ventilated? And by ventilation, I'm not talking about a couple of 2X6" floor grates. The chickens have perfectly good insulation of their own. It's really funny to me, that people put their own limitation of handling cold weather, on their chickens. When in reality land, the chickens are well suited (Literally) for the cold.
How many tales of woe will we read about this year, about burned down coops, and all the chickens in it, due to a stupid and unnecessary heatlamp. Or about some poor frosted up birds, due to being kept in a near airtight box in some misguided attempt to "Keep them warm". Bottom line, they don't need any added heat from us, And they don't want some well insulated, poorly ventilated box to live in.
Jack

 

[vickiw]

First, I think it needs to be pointed out that I doubt any of us that are 'pro-heating" are talking about keeping the coops at a toasty 65o or some such nonsense. Many of us on here aren't blessed to live south of about anywhere

so at least some heating becomes necessary for part of the worst days/nights when temps get down well below freezing, or even -0. I am going to be heating my coop to keep it just above freezing on the worst nights. Don't remember who said what but one of you said our flocks would get sick if we heated. sorry, but that has no basis in fact unless you were assuming we were going to really "heat" the coop like our homes!

We northern folks fully understand the meaning of 'adapting". The statement about losing power killing our flocks? Come on, really???? Our toes may get frozen up here but not our brains!

Seriously, if you maintain proper ventilation (which is done differently in the north than in the south), keep your coop draft free, dry and CLEAN, doing the best you can to provide a safe and reasonably protected outside access (and for you southern folks, trust me, up here where we can get 5 ft drifts on a regular basis is no easy feat) there is nothing wrong with preventing your birds from freezing to death or losing combs, wattles or toes by providing a moderate heat source when needed.

Ok, got to go now. Speaking of bad weather, I am watching it sleet/rain out my window and there is a call for snow flurries tonight so I have to get outside and harvest the last of my herbs. Hope you southern folks are having a longer autumn than mother nature is giving us!!!

 

[JackE]

I don't add any heat at all. No insulation either. The front of the coop is wide open year round, and the chickens thrive.
Jack

 

[Aschenfire]

Birds have natural insulation and coops do not need heat even in the coldest climates. If they go out at all in winter, and they should, even in the snow, you are going to have *soft* birds, used to being warmed up inside, going into the natural weather, and then you have issues. Make sure your coop is draft free, but well ventilated. Draft free at floor level and roost level, but vented at the top for air flow. Keep them dry, keep the air flowing, and you're not going to have to worry about putting in heaters. Why mess with your birds natural state by treating them like they are made of glass?

Birds such as Serama which come from a tropical climate are an exception, and they are not able to tolerate cold winter weather. BUT most chickens are well-equipped to handle a little bit of cold weather. I am sure our great grandmas did not put heat or central air in their chicken coops. And we still have chickens to show for that.

 

[aoxa]

You know how I heat them? Warm oatmeal in the morning. That's it.

No heat lamps (unless I have chicks 8 weeks and under), no insulation (don't see the point - they are fine).

Like a few people said, as long as they have unfrozen water and plenty of food to provide energy to keep warm, they will be fine. Small coops with not enough ventilation WILL create frost bite in large combed breeds. Even a small coop with plenty of ventilation will if you over crowd them.

We have days that get down to -40 with the wind chill. Never lost a single chicken to cold weather. They stay INSIDE when it is that cold, and are protected from the wind.

I had more scares with the heat affecting them than the cold weather.

My flock is very happy and healthy

 

[Fred's Hens]

Well, there you see the "different strokes, for different folks" truism. On this preceding page we find a Minnesota large flock keeper who doesn't heat, has large open windows, while someone in mediterranean California, with small coops, provides heating panels. LOL

Yet? The chicken adapts to both situations. Couldn't help but draw the comparison and contrast.