-17 degrees and need help with flock

[RMo2]

Hello!

It has never been this cold here, that I can remember! This our second winter with a flock, and we only have 3 girls in our coop. The coop is relatively small ( see photos). I would like to put in a heat lamp, but am afraid it may get too warm. Should I put in a heat lamp or just a 100 watt bulb? It is currently -5 degree but tonight and tomorrow we will hit double -17.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[goatluver20]

I use a heat lamp that is plugged into a thermacube which makes it so that it turns on at I think 34 degrees and turns off at 45 degrees. Hope this helped!

 

[earlybird10842]

Hello!

It has never been this cold here, that I can remember! This our second winter with a flock, and we only have 3 girls in our coop. The coop is relatively small ( see photos). I would like to put in a heat lamp, but am afraid it may get too warm. Should I put in a heat lamp or just a 100 watt bulb? It is currently -5 degree but tonight and tomorrow we will hit double -17.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Yeah, I would heat. Probably not a lot of heat is needed, but just something to make sure the water and eggs don't freeze.

 

[RMo2]

Thank you! We put a heat lamp in the coop! Unfortunately our power went out for a few hours, but hopefully now it's making a difference! I am going to brave the -12 temps and check on them soon.

Thank you for your input!

 

[annagarret]

Have they been outside for several months? I am in Michigan, it was -16 today, hens doing good, down in the run vs their "upstairs". It's colder now, no heat or lights. They will be just fine if they have acclimated. Plenty of fresh water, they even eat the snow, if the water's frozen and lot's of feed. I have now frostbite or respiratory issues either









My coop, it's on a 7 acres and the wind is real bad here.....so far so good

It's wrapped in plastic and a tarp with snow packet up half of the sides along with some bales of hay on one side that doesn't have plastic so there can be some air flow...
Edited by annagarret - Today at 10:38 am

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[RMo2]

They have been outside for 2 years. When I went to put the heat lamp in, our hen with the biggest comb had a little frost bite on the tip. Glad your hens are tolerating it well! Stay warm!

 

[annagarret]

Checked in on them this morning and they are good...

It got down to -26 here. It's 1 degree now...

They are a little quiet but I am happy they made it through the worst.

 

[RMo2]

Checked in on them this morning and they are good...

It got down to -26 here. It's 1 degree now...

They are a little quiet but I am happy they made it through the worst.

Very happy to hear! Fortunately it will warm up here toward the end of the week!

 

[annagarret]

How are your's doing?

 

[Mother-Rhodes]

I am so glad to hear your chickens are doing well in this cold. I too live in MI and just got my first coop...no chickens till spring though. I have been worried about how well they will do next winter. I don't plan on having a large flock and my coop is some what small. I am taking note of how others here are keeping their chickens safe in the cold.