Do i heat the coop or not?

[JacinLarkwell]

-20 is rather normal for a few days in a row, but usually just nights here. Still don't use any heaters.

 

[BowCHICKawowwow2]

Proper ventilation is more important than heat for most bird breeds. If you have a good dry coop big enough for your flock they can get out of the weather nature will take over. They know how to do the rest.

How do know how much ventilation is enough? My whole coop is ventilated right under the roofline around the coop. Then we have a 4'x3' window on 1 side. I'm contemplating closing it though so there isnt a draft. Or I could just add a curtain to it? Also on one end of the coop I have a 12"×3" louvered vent.

 

[centrarchid]

This what I would try. I have not used one, but observations of chickens fighting conditions far harsher than virtually any coop provides shows the birds are most interested in keeping their feet warm while loafing, and presumably roosting. Power consumption would be interesting to know. My birds can roost in trees during blizzard conditions with air temperature down around -10 degrees F.

https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Products-Thermo-Chicken-Perch-Gray/dp/B07PFYLSY5?ref_=ast_sto_dp

 

[neo71665]

How do know how much ventilation is enough? My whole coop is ventilated right under the roofline around the coop. Then we have a 4'x3' window on 1 side. I'm contemplating closing it though so there isnt a draft. Or I could just add a curtain to it? Also on one end of the coop I have a 12"×3" louvered vent.

You want the humidity inside the coop the same as the outside, that means the ventilation is just perfect. Too little vents and the humidity inside is way too high so that makes the coop cold.

Now if the chickens are all hiding from the drafts it means you have too much vents. It's easier to block off vents than it is to try to add them later.

 

[centrarchid]

You want the humidity inside the coop the same as the outside, that means the ventilation is just perfect. Too little vents and the humidity inside is way too high so that makes the coop cold.

Humidity build up I associate with elevated temperature with moisture building up on feathers causing chickens ability to resist heat loss to decrease faster than temperature rises. The cold challenged birds then shunt blood supply away from comb, wattles and toes setting stage from frost bite.

 

[Alaskan]

-20 is rather normal for a few days in a row, but usually just nights here. Still don't use any heaters.

That isn't too bad temperature wise. And I agree, it isn't cold enough to require heat.

 

[wamtazlady]

We live in western Montana. Where the winters are harsh, with feet of snow and negative temperatures regularly. I have one coop right now but purchasing another because I've increased my flock. Do I need to add a heat source to my coops? I've read you can do either but I feel so bad knowing they're out there without any heat.

I live in Kalispell Montana so I know all about the weather you might get. I do not heat my coop. I DO have a lot of ventilation that is never closed. A dry chicken is a warm chicken. I have 10 square feet of vents. The ventilation is up high and the roosts are down low so no breeze blows on the birds to ruffle those feather. To keep warm chickens trap heat under those lovely downy feathers. They must suffer in the summer heat because they can not take those down jackets off.

I do use 2 by 4s for roosts, wide side up. I read that the birds could sit on their feet while they sleep at night and keep their feet toasty warm too.

Think about those little wrens and sparrows that are outside all winter. They flit around and they do not look miserable. They are a great example of trapping heat under feathers. I would bet that at night they find a nice place out of the breeze for roosting.