Do they need supplemental heat?

[Eva2020]

We normally live in the city, but we are going to be at our country house from now to mid january. We have a little starter coop here, so we brought the chickens!

Anyways, in the city we got maybe 8 inches of snow, but in the country, we got a good 2ft. The coop is like a basic small coop, but I wasn’t too worried about the girl last night even though it got down to 15 degrees. My mom told me this morning she got up at 1am and put in a heat lamp we used when they were chicks because she was so worried they would freeze to death! I don’t really think they need that though, right? They’re 9 months old so i don’t think they need any supplemental heat.

I don’t think they really need any lamps or anything because its 15 degress and they snuggle together for warmth. correct me if i’m wrong though.

 

[CluckerFamily]

They don't need the heat lamp.
I only use a heat lamp for the -30F weeks. Otherwise, they have their own built in heater... feathers.
If you put your hand under all the feathers on a cold day, you will feel how warm it is and that they are just fine.

 

[Aapomp831]

They don’t need heat unless they are under 8 weeks and not fully feathered. Chickens have a layer of down under their feathers; also, supplemental heat can be harmful to them and is the #1 cause of tragic coop fires. The key to keeping a chicken happy in the winter is ventilation - humidity from their breath can settle onto their combs and cause frostbite. As long as they are high and dry, they will be fine. Offer them a moderate amount of scratch in the winter; the digestion of the heavy, slow carbs helps generate heat in their bodies.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

In a word, NO. Not at 9 months, no matter the temperature. At that age, they're basically adults physiologically.
I just moved seven 6 week old chicks out last week and it has gotten down to 24F a couple nights since then.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My pullets are 7 1/2 months old and hens are 28 months.
I don't heat my well ventilated coops.

Temps were 3 degrees Fahrenheit yesterday morning when I opened coops and dropped to 2 degrees before sunrise.

My pullets yesterday foraging in the paths around my property.

yesterday morning getting their Scratch Grain treat around 9 am

Temp was 9 F. GC

 

[Eva2020]

Great thank you guys so much! She got a heater (like the plates you can use as a brooder or a heater) at tractor supply today (which I told her they won't need) but I guess good to know she cares about them

 

[aart]

I'd be more concerned about shelter space and ventilation than heat.
How big is coop, in feet by feet, and how many birds?
Dimensions and pics would help here.

 

[Eva2020]

I'd be more concerned about shelter space and ventilation than heat.
How big is coop, in feet by feet, and how many birds?
Dimensions and pics would help here.

4 hens, I would say it's around 3'x3' (maybe a little smaller than that) I'm not exactly sure. I know it isn't that big, but they have a lot more room during the day and its only for a few weeks. It's also not the best quality which is why I was asking as opposed to a coop that can insulate well. They slept fine last night