Chicken heating needs in cold climates

[Cravechicken]

Hi I’m new here, I just built a small (6’x3’x3’) chicken coop and was planning on getting 2-3 egg laying chickens soon. I live in Bend, Oregon and the winters get below freezing for a few months. First off I was wondering if a submersible fish tank heater would work to keep the 5 gal water fount from freezing over? Or do I need to spend the $50 for the fount heater they sell at Wilco? Secondly I bought a clamp lamp and was gonna buy a ceramic heat bulb for the inside of the chicken coop? I did not insulate the coop but it’s not too late, I sheeted the outside with siding and there is a opening with no door as I plan on giving them a little run... thank you!

 

[Rose Quartz]

View attachment 1506444 View attachment 1506441 View attachment 1506443 Hi I’m new here, I just built a small (6’x3’x3’) chicken coop and was planning on getting 2-3 egg laying chickens soon. I live in Bend, Oregon and the winters get below freezing for a few months. First off I was wondering if a submersible fish tank heater would work to keep the 5 gal water fount from freezing over? Or do I need to spend the $50 for the fount heater they sell at Wilco? Secondly I bought a clamp lamp and was gonna buy a ceramic heat bulb for the inside of the chicken coop? I did not insulate the coop but it’s not too late, I sheeted the outside with siding and there is a opening with no door as I plan on giving them a little run... thank you!

I just checked your local lowest annual temps. I'm not sure how accurate what i found was. but.... If 11F is rare where you live then your adult chickens will be fine through the winter with out added heat, so long as you have decent ventilation.

It goes down to -22F here, and my sister doesn't add heat to her coop, it's not insulated just 2x4s with 1/2" plywood walls.


Welcome to BYC by the way.

 

[Cravechicken]

I just checked your local lowest annual temps. I'm not sure how accurate what i found was. but.... If 11F is rare where you live then your adult chickens will be fine through the winter with out added heat, so long as you have decent ventilation.

It goes down to -22F here, and my sister doesn't add heat to her coop, it's not insulated just 2x4s with 1/2" plywood walls.


Welcome to BYC by the way.

Awesome thank you! It might get a lil colder than 11F but not -20 that’s for sure. I’m assuming they don’t need light, natural light is good enough?

 

[Rose Quartz]

Awesome thank you! It might get a lil colder than 11F but not -20 that’s for sure. I’m assuming they don’t need light, natural light is good enough?

if you don't add hours in the winter, then the egg production will slow down, but a lot of people don't add light.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You don't need supplemental heat at that temperature (and I'd recommend against it, as heat lamps are fire hazards) but you do need ventilation so moisture can escape in winter, and so they can stay cool in summer. A dry chicken can stay warm by itself just fine.

 

[Michael Stegall]

View attachment 1506444 View attachment 1506441 View attachment 1506443 Hi I’m new here, I just built a small (6’x3’x3’) chicken coop and was planning on getting 2-3 egg laying chickens soon. I live in Bend, Oregon and the winters get below freezing for a few months. First off I was wondering if a submersible fish tank heater would work to keep the 5 gal water fount from freezing over? Or do I need to spend the $50 for the fount heater they sell at Wilco? Secondly I bought a clamp lamp and was gonna buy a ceramic heat bulb for the inside of the chicken coop? I did not insulate the coop but it’s not too late, I sheeted the outside with siding and there is a opening with no door as I plan on giving them a little run... thank you!

Biggest thing I would think about is getting cold Hardy chickens then like they said you won't need to worry about extra heat as they will keep themselves plenty warm.

 

[aart]

For 2-3 birds you don't need a 5 gal waterer....and it won't fit in that coop anyway.
I keep about 15 birds over winter and they go thru less than a gallon a day.
I use an aquarium heater in my waterer...has worked great for 3 winters now, down to negative 10°F.

I'd suggest you make a big run with a solid roof and maybe some wind block on the walls for winter...and add some ventilation to the coop(maybe there is some under the edges of the roof metal?) might want to insulate the roof metal tho, can condense moisture and it looks like birds combs might touch it due to short coop.

 

[Cravechicken]

For 2-3 birds you don't need a 5 gal waterer....and it won't fit in that coop anyway.
I keep about 15 birds over winter and they go thru less than a gallon a day.
I use an aquarium heater in my waterer...has worked great for 3 winters now, down to negative 10°F.

I'd suggest you make a big run with a solid roof and maybe some wind block on the walls for winter...and add some ventilation to the coop(maybe there is some under the edges of the roof metal?) might want to insulate the roof metal tho, can condense moisture and it looks like birds combs might touch it due to short coop.

The plan was to keep the water fount right outside the coop, I got the 5 gal so I wouldn’t have to fill it up as much, is putting it outside the coop a bad idea? I think there will be plenty of ventilation considering the door will always be open and the for the floor I planned on using 1/2” square wire in hopes that it would add to the ventilation as well...

 

[snow5164]

Ive had that waterer , mine rusted and I exchanged it for the plastic one. It will freeze up outside , the little tray will be full of ice.

Veto the wire floor , bad for their feet

We made for less then $9 a cookie tin water heater , get a tin cut a hole in the side , wire a light socket inside out lid on and plug in . Place watered on top , a 25 watt bulb was great , 60 watt made tea .

Make sure you have a large run, and yes cover it and add plastic in winter to stop the winds . In very cold temperatures my girls are out in the snow because they have a wind block .

 

[aart]

I got the 5 gal so I wouldn’t have to fill it up as much, is putting it outside the coop a bad idea?

Better to check the water(and feeder) every day anyway and just easier to manage a smaller vessel, especially in winter....easy to carry out a half gallon of water each day.

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