7 Degrees Tonight !!! Heat Lamp?

[gkeesling]

I have 20 total of plymouth barr rocks and black sex links in an 8x10 coop. I don't plan on putting any heat in my coop unless the temps get to below zero for a few days in a row. I live in east central indiana. I have tarps on each side of 1/2 of my partially covered run to keep the south and north wind from blowing through where I keep their food.

 

[silkiechicken]

We didn't have 7F weather, but we did have 10-12F weather for a week last winter. All but my very youngest and oldest slept on the roost in the RUN!!! They were sheltered by just the tarp and nobody even suffered frost bite.

 

[Wildsky]

No heat lamp needed - really!

 

[cluckychick]

I have my SLW and black australorps sleeping outside and it's like 0* here. All day they stayed in their coop but nightfall and here they come to sleep outside. Silly chickens

 

[iread]

This is a good post! I had the same question. I put a low watt heat lamp in my coop because it was around 27 each night this week. I was worried to death that they'd freeze! My dad said i was spoiling them but I felt like better safe than sorry! I have also increased food--a little fat keeps me warmer so I figured the chickens need it too!

 

[gsim]

Quote:
Tough chooks!

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

I put a light in mine tonight just to cut the chill. Our coop is colder inside than the outside temperture, great in Summer, but no so much in winter. About half of them are molting so I felt sorry for them!

 

[boxermom]

I have 30 chickens and 4 turkeys that live in the north end of our old brick dairy barn. They have no heat, although I have a 100 watt light bulb that comes on over their roost in the early am. This morning when we got up at 0800, the temp was 36 below zero. I made up a batch of warm oatmeal and goodies, then DH went out to check on them. They were fine. Their temp was 10 degrees. No one was sitting under the 100 watt bulb. I was concerned about the frost bite, but the barn is dry and everyone's combs look healthy and fine. DH said if they stayed like that with the temps we had last night, we have nothing to worry about in this cold weather. I'll be sleeping easier now.

 

[noriko]

I also use a heat lamp for them. My girls are molting and Yes, I know I spoil them lol Noriko.

 

[artsyrobin]

one thing i was told to consider with heating the coop, if we lose power the girls won't be acclimated to the cold, we do lose power in ice storms here- once as long as a week- so the suggestion was to keep them out of drafts, they will warm up the coop with just being ten chickens in a 8 x 5 coop... my only worry now is the silly guineas who won't come in at all for warmth- they are friendly and all, but want their tree at nite...