Below zero coop Temp?

[leilani10]

Does a light on at night for heat in my coop disturb the sleep of my chickens. I don't heat my coop but it is well insulated. The Arctic cold snap just arrived and they survived this first night just fine. Is the heat light at night just to make me feel better or will it give them some comfort? Seems silly but this is serious to me. Thank You

 

[junebuggena]

As long as the coop is very well ventilated and the birds are healthy, they should be able to handle the cold just fine without heat. When using a heat source in the coop, you have to take into consideration that you may loose a few if the power goes out. Chickens that aren't acclimated to cold temperatures, don't handle sudden drops in temp well.

 

[sourland]

Keep them clean, dry, draft free and well fed and watered, and they should do fine. Unless you have a heated waterer, I would recommend watering multiple times during the day. I agree with June b, about supplemental heating and the possibility of a power outage.

 

[teria]

We live in the rocky mountains, where the temps have hovered in the teens to zero many nights in a row, and dipped to minus temps a few times. My girls have done just fine with no supplemental heat or lighting. As already said, keep the coop clean and dry, and feed them prior to closing them in for the night. Always keep their water clean and in these temps watch that it doesn't freeze. Proper ventilation will remove the moisture from the air, leaving them cozy and able to keep themselves warm. Also, make sure they are able to completely cover their feet with their bodies. Roosting bars that are too narrow can leave parts of their feet exposed, and that can lead to frostbite. Watch out for any drafts at roost bar level. If you coop is very large, you may want to make it smaller by creating a barrier wall with tarps to help them hold more heat in. If it is an average size coop, they will be fine.

I understand your worrying about it, and none of us thinks you are being silly. I worried too, and was only convinced that my girls didn't need any extra heat source as I watched them come through this nasty winter we've had without any problems.

 

[aart]

3 good posts above........the first winter is hard, until you get some experience how they can deal with the cold just fine.

 

[leilani10]

Thank you!!!

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Does a light on at night for heat in my coop disturb the sleep of my chickens. I don't heat my coop but it is well insulated. The Arctic cold snap just arrived and they survived this first night just fine. Is the heat light at night just to make me feel better or will it give them some comfort? Seems silly but this is serious to me. Thank You

It's zero degrees here tonight and I have my heat lamp on and they all try to huddle up under neath it so I would say they like it

 

[Eps32]

My first winter I was worried sick. We got into 8 f . And I held out and didn't use supplemental heat. I have a well ventilated coop and they did just fine. Matter a fact it snowed yesterday they free range and foraged in the snowy weather all day. It was a light snow so the ground wasn't completely covered. Then last night it got to 15f and they did just fine. As long as there fed good and have clean unfrozen water. They do good in my experience. I have lost one hen this winter. But I don't think it was cold it was just a sudden death. I looked her over everything looked fine. She never showed symptoms before her death. So I really don't know if she fell of the roost broke her neck. Or just had a heart attack. I kept a close eye on the flock to make sure it wasn't a disease. And I haven't had any problems since. Still mind boggled of what killed her. But I guess sometimes chickens just die.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Yes it snowed here to yesterday with lots of wind and here Monday to Wednesday we are to get 3-6 inches of snow plus some ice

 

[Eps32]

Yes it snowed here to yesterday with lots of wind and here Monday to Wednesday we are to get 3-6 inches of snow plus some ice

Geez spring can't come soon enough for us chicken lovers lol