At what temperature should I heat the coop?

[chickenalice]

In the winter the coldest it will get is around 30 (usually at nights). The coop isnt closed in on all sides. The front is just made of wire. Should I put a heat lamp in there during the winter? or will they be fine without it?

 

[Mahonri]

Why not close in the open side?

 

[Kittymomma]

As long as they don't have wind blowing in on them they should be fine. If they do have direct drafts then you need to address that issue, heating lamps won't help. I *think* that some of the folks with open front coops close part of them up either with plywood or plastic for the winter months. The main thing with chickens is that they have a place that is dry and draft free, if they have that they can handle MUCH colder temp. then what you seem to have with no problems.

 

[TipsyDog]

I would close up the open side through the winter. A draft is more dangerous than the temperature. You could put up a temporary piece of plywood or even use bales of hay and stack them up to create an enclosure.

 

[chicks4kids]

If it only gets 30, they'll be fine. I don't give them a heat lamp til the temp reaches single digits....But I would definitely put up some visqueen as a wind guard. You don't want them getting a draft.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

How old are your birds and what breed are they?

 

[chickenalice]

Right now they are 6 weeks, but it wont be getting that cold until December/January. Now the lowest temperature at night is around the mid 70's. I have an australorp, white leghorn, rhode island red, barred rock, and speckled sussex.

 

[woodmort]

My chickens would love 30 in the winter--it is often below zero inside the coop and the only heat is what comes off their bodies. In fact, we're expecting temperatures in the upper 30's tonight and the windows in my coop are wide open. As long as your chickens are sheltered from the wind, they will be just fine at 30 without any heat at all unless you're keeping jungle fowl or some exotic warm weather kind--I see you don't, your breeds are about the same as mine.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I agree with the others who said just partially close the front of the coop, leaving some ventilation but keeping the drafts out.

 

[greenmulberry]

I don't provide heat and it gets into the negative teens here. Occasionally negative 20's.

I would cover that open side like others said, leaving some open for fresh air.