Do adult chickens need supplemental heat

[Joanna6]

Temperatures have been coasting along here in Virginia with 30s during the day and hi 20s at night. Now we will have 3 nights of single digits. I have 8 mature (2.5 yrs) hens in a 4 x 6 coop. Are they going to need extra warmth to get through those single digit nights?

 

[Debbie292d]

They really should be okay at that temp, but that's being said by me, who heats our coop to 40F all winter long. Those temps in the teens could be fine, but it's when it drags out to several that it will start wearing them down. I prefer they don't have to work so hard to stay warm.

If it's just for the nighttime and short term, I think I'd let them be. Otherwise, you could get a radiant panel heater, like Cozy Coop for them. They can stand or sleep next to it if they get chilled.

Do what you feel is best. I do not like anyone telling someone their chickens "will be fine" as we aren't the owner of yours, but they really should be.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Temperatures have been coasting along here in Virginia with 30s during the day and hi 20s at night. Now we will have 3 nights of single digits. I have 8 mature (2.5 yrs) hens in a 4 x 6 coop. Are they going to need extra warmth to get through those single digit nights?

You have 8 chickens in a 24 sq ft coop. IMO, they won't need any extra heat because that's pretty tight quarters for that many birds. They'll generate plenty of body heat to keep that coop warm, I think.

 

[DLA]

I saw from a previous post of yours that you have Australorp, Orpington and Plymouth Rocks. I wouldn't think they would need extra heat. Those breeds are more than capable of withstanding temps colder than that if they are dry and blocked from any wind blowing right on them. You could give them a little more protein during extra cold weather (like a few scrambled eggs or some mealworms) but I wouldn't overdo it. A thin coating of Bag balm works good for me as a preventative on any combs that are larger and might be susceptible to frostbite but I usually only do that when we are getting into single digits or negative numbers.
If you feel bad for them and want to put a heater in use something safe and don't turn it up too high. A drastic change in temp from the coop to outside could be harder on them than the cold.