Do I need a heat lamp in the coop?

[kmwright]

It's been really cold here lately (well, California cold=35 degrees at night) and my heat lamp keeps going out on me. I think there is a faulty switch or something, anyway.

Do I need a heat lamp for them? They are in a covered coop and they seem to be fine but I don't want them to freeze at night!!

Thank you!

 

[Yay Chicks!]

No. You do not need a heat lamp. Find the thread titled "Think it's too cold for your chickens..." It was started by someone living in Alaska with sub 0 temperatures.

Heat lamps can cause fires, keep your birds from becoming acclimated to cold and increase humidity in the coop. Your birds will be just fine. They are wearing down jackets.

 

[canada-goose]

They shouldn't need a heat lamp at that temperature. Chickens are surprisingly tough animals.

Just keep an eye on them and try to repair the heat lamp if they start being sleepy and sluggish all day long.

 

[cherylcohen]

Are they babies?

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Here's the thread to check out: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=421122&p=1

 

[BeccaB00]

naww yuo don't need one

My chickens are in a chainlink kennel, with no coop, and no heat. Never have I had any problems with them freezing.

 

[abhaya]

as long as they have all thier feathers they will be fine. The heat lamp is more likely to cause harm as they get used to the heat so if it does go out they are not used to the cooler temp. Let them ajust to the outside temp they will be fine.

 

[Tdub4chiks]

I read a thread either last night or this morning about someone getting a snow storm recently and their power went out. They lost all/or most of their chickens because they did not get acclimated to the cold.

 

[cedermeeavey]

Quote:
So I live in NH where the mid-winter low temps will on occasion go below -10F but usually stay above 0. I have a trap door on the floor of the coop for them to exit to the run. I've been closing this at night to keep them warmer and keep the wind off them. Should I just be leaving this open at night? So far low temps haven't gone below 20F but we'll be in the teens at night soon.

This is my first winter with chickens and so far I'm impressed with their hardiness. By the way, I have 6, five month old Speckled Sussex.

 

[fiberart57]

Close the trap door at night not only to prevent drafts, but to keep predators out. Even inside the city limits, you'd be surprised at the number of racoons. They aren't going to leave their coop in the night time anyway.

Mary