Brooder Plate heat for winter COLD Canada -40

[turtlesback]

Hi everyone,

My chickens will be going through their first winter here in north Ontario, Canada. I have a heat brooder plate mounted on the wall close to their roosting bar. When should I turn this on? I was thinking of waiting until it is 0 Celsius (32 F). It can get as close to -40 in the winter here. Any ideas? While im here also how much vent should I add to let air our in a metal shed coop? Theres 6 girls

Thank you!

 

[MamaPoult]

What breed chickens do you own?

 

[turtlesback]

What breed chickens do you own?

Hi mamapoult!

barred plymoth rock
rir
red sex link
scarlet
azure
olive

 

[MamaPoult]

Hi mamapoult!

barred plymoth rock
rir
red sex link
scarlet
azure
olive

Hi!

I know Rir's and plymoth rock's are cold hardy but I've never heard of the rest. The coldest my chickens have ever experienced is -50f which looks like is -45c. I own australorps and Brahmas mainly. Where did they come from? If the temperatures are comparable to where you're at now I'd only add heat if the birds look really cold.

 

[turtlesback]

Hi!

I know Rir's and plymoth rock's are cold hardy but I've never heard of the rest. The coldest my chickens have ever experienced is -50f which looks like is -45c. I own australorps and Brahmas mainly. Where did they come from? If the temperatures are comparable to where you're at now I'd only add heat if the birds look really cold.

Alaska! Here I am worried in Ontario well thank you for letting me know they all come from here so they should be. Im worried about the wet cold that permeates... feels a lot colder when the air feels wet

 

[StinkyAcres]

I've never heated my (uninsulated) coop and we can expect nights down to -23C for days here. So I'd say those breeds will generally not need heat down to around -25C as long as the coop has adequate ventilation and there are no drafts hitting them. Now I don't have experience with metal coops but I read condensation tends to form inside on metal in the winter which can be a big problem. Can we see photos of the inside and outside of your coop?