Coop below 32 degrees

[hgottman2]

My coop is already below 32 degrees and temps are going to drop much lower. There is no concern about drafts, and I have proper ventilation.

My question is if I should turn on a heat lamp until I can get a safer heat option? This is my first winter with chickens, and I want to make sure they are happy, healthy, and comfortable.

 

[Folly's place]

We had 2F last night, no problems. What breeds do you have, and how old are they? Pictures of your coop and run will help too.
I don't think you have a problem, if the coop is good, and breed choices fit your climate. Do make sure their water doesn't freeze, either with a heater for the waterer, or frequent refills every day when it's freezing out there.
Mary

 

[3KillerBs]

Have you read this article? https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

Fully-feathered chickens in a dry, draft-free but well-ventilated coop should be good down to at least 0F.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

My coop is already below 32 degrees and temps are going to drop much lower. There is no concern about drafts, and I have proper ventilation.

My question is if I should turn on a heat lamp until I can get a safer heat option? This is my first winter with chickens, and I want to make sure they are happy, healthy, and comfortable.

Assuming your birds are fully feathered, and not a breed feared for lack of cold tolerance, they should be just fine without heat, assuming they've experienced temps in the 30s or low 40s this past week.


I'm not providing heat for my birds, its going to 30 tonight. Maybe 29. It was 73 overnight two days ago. I'm not concerned, and neither, it seems, are they. We hit a high of 43 today, its the most active I've seen them in months. They hate the heat of my spring, summer, fall.

 

[hgottman2]

We had 2F last night, no problems. What breeds do you have, and how old are they? Pictures of your coop and run will help too.
I don't think you have a problem, if the coop is good, and breed choices fit your climate. Do make sure their water doesn't freeze, either with a heater for the waterer, or frequent refills every day when it's freezing out there.
Mary

I will have to take photos of the coop tomorrow. My in-laws gifted me a heated water container for Christmas, so the flock (and I) have enjoyed that.

No two birds are the same breed.. I wanted to have an assortment. They hatched March 22nd, so about 9 months.

Gold Laced Wyndonette
Blue Laced Red Wyandotte
Blue Favaucana
Partridge Olive Egger
Speckled Sussex
RIR
Blue Splash Maran
Ameraucana
Light Brahma (Rooster)
Easter Egger

 

[hgottman2]

Assuming your birds are fully feathered, and not a breed feared for lack of cold tolerance, they should be just fine without heat, assuming they've experienced temps in the 30s or low 40s this past week.


I'm not providing heat for my birds, its going to 30 tonight. Maybe 29. It was 73 overnight two days ago. I'm not concerned, and neither, it seems, are they. We hit a high of 43 today, its the most active I've seen them in months. They hate the heat of my spring, summer, fall.

Thanks for the reply! My concern is the upcoming weather!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I have a friend in Chicago, her birds are doing well in this, outside, no heat. One of hers is a GLW, it's doing great. My own Brahmas (dark) and my SLW are my best cold birds.

 

[aart]

This is my first winter with chickens,

The first winter is hard, until you'll come to realize how tough they are.
Only the large single combed birds may get frostbite.

 

[hgottman2]

Have you read this article? https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

Fully-feathered chickens in a dry, draft-free but well-ventilated coop should be good down to at least 0F.

I will read that now. Thank you so much for sharing!

 

[suburbanfarmermi]

My coop is already below 32 degrees and temps are going to drop much lower. There is no concern about drafts, and I have proper ventilation.

My question is if I should turn on a heat lamp until I can get a safer heat option? This is my first winter with chickens, and I want to make sure they are happy, healthy, and comfortable.

The best thing to do with a heat lamp is to NOT have a heat lamp. That is NOT from my 9 months experience as a chicken owner, but rather that comes from 26 years on the fire department.

We are on our first winter keeping chickens as well.. We are bit further north of you (grand Rapids, Michigan) We had wondered about get a panel heater like this one. However after doing a lot of research we concluded that adding heat is not neccessary. Additionally adding heat can be a negative if your chickens do not get acculmated to the cold and you loose power for some reason... that could put them in a dangerous situation. we have already seen temps in the low teens this winter and we believe our chickens are doing fine. We do still worry about them as we do want to be good chicken keepers.

We have a heated waterer and keep their feeders topped off. We also have been giving them a little cracked corn each day. the thinking is that the extra calories will help keep them warm.