Do You Heat Your Coop? (Poll) LATEST UPDATE PG 15

[bills]

250 watt heat lamp, used with a dimmer control, so I can vary the temp. The lamp is aimed at the waterer, to keep it from freezing solid, but it does add some heat to the coop. Vents and a window are still open for moisture removal.

-13f, 2 feet of snow, and still getting eggs daily.

 

[tazcat70]

I have to change my no to yes. We had some really cold weather and I added a 100w light, and then 2 days ago I added a 250w heat lamp.

After a mad scramble of panic at 10:00 at night when the winds were blowing so hard and it was 0 degrees out, I moved the babies to the big coop with the adults and added the heat.

Everyone has settled in, amazingly.

ETA: My rooster got frostbite on his comb...

so I am off to research that.

 

[luvmygirlsinAK]

We recently took in 2 chickens from 2 different places. Both from Fairbanks, and both used no heat. The temperatures really have not been all that frightening here, as Tori says "t-shirt weather" to us, we go out to the animals all of the time without a coat on, but warm coat weather to "chechakos." It has actually been fairly warm for here. Both of those chickens have frostbite on their combs, it is so sad to me that people are so insistent that they don't need to heat their coop-it is extremely painful for them! It is so sad to see these chickens suffer needlessly!!

I am still in favor of heating the coop, here or whatever state needed.

So much extremely painful frostbite and death could be avoided by the simple addition of heat. We have an ad on Craigslist to take in the poor things. It is extremely saddening to hear of all the reports of frostbite, and death from the cold winter.


If you are barely hanging in there because others have said that you don't need heat, I would highly encourage you to think of your chickens, rather than a trend, others don't know what you and your chickens are going through right now in your area. Do what you need to do to keep your chickens alive and well, without frostbite!

 

[JennsPeeps]

Yes

we added a heat lamp when the temps got into the teens & 20s. That's rare here in W. WA State. I wasn't planning on it, but the benefit from it is twofold: warm/healthy chickens, liquid water.

I figured it was worth the $25 to protect my investmtent: my chickens. They've spent a lot more time in the coop, especially my banty cochin, who pretty much parked her little rump in front of the lamp and didn't budge.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Luv's right... and I'm feeling the need to clarify my stance on this...
It all depends upon the number of birds you have, the breeds you have, the age they are and the living conditions you have supplied for your birds.
I have many birds, and yes, it gets extremely cold here and they're fine. But I have chosen cold-hardy standard breeds, most are full grown, and they have a fully insulated coop. I'm watching the birds carefully, conducting my own experiment if you will, to see what temps/humidity the birds start showing signs of discomfort. Currently it is a balmy 21°F and 91% humidity.
For people who live in relatively tropical areas that are seeing the rare event of temperatures in the 30s, 20s, and teens, just watch your birds and if they start acting uncomfortable for the conditions they're in, then yes, give them heat. I'm guessing that they'll be ok for the most part, but some of the smaller breeds, younger birds, or very old birds, are going to be stressed by the temps. If you give them a heat lamp anyway, they're going to huddle under it. Wouldn't you? I'm not saying that you shouldn't give heat... just that for adult birds that have been allowed to acclimate with the changing seasons that have a draft-free dry coop and a few other adult birds to cuddle with you shouldn't have to apply heat. When people say "Oh, it got down to 35°F last night, I'm going to put heat on my birds!" I have to ask "why?" They have down coats. Unless they're wet or drafty, they should be fine, unless they're very young, very old, very small, sick, molting or all by themselves... yada yada.
OK. I'm done with this subject.

My fingers hurt...

 

[NurseELB]

Since it's so unusually cold right now, we went and bought a bale of straw at the feed store yesterday. We put the coop next to the house, covered it with blankets, and laid the straw inside to cover the snow. I also put straw in the nest box over the shavings.
Did this yesterday. Went out to change the water this morning- and it was fine! First time since the temps dropped! The birds are still anxious to come out, though. Presently they are at the back door begging, as usual.

 

[TurtleChick]

i'm with everyone who likes to let their birds acclimatize (sp???) to the usual winter temps for their area. BUT i did put my girls' heat lamp out there for the last few nights, as we've been having a unusally long unusually cold spell here. i know they'd survive without it (so would i, for that matter) - but it makes me feel better to know that they feel better so it's for my peace of mind as much as it's for their comfort. i go out and turn it on before i go to bed and i turn it off when i get up (wish i could afford a timer to shut it off earlier - that'll be on my wish-list for next year!).

soooooo.

yes. i add heat on the nights that are VERY cold for us.

 

[silkeysandra]

yep. try to keep it no colder than 40 degrees.

 

[Beekissed]

My birds roost so close together that I can't imagine that they would get cold. Heads under wings sometimes or even tucked in between them and their neighbor. We've been down in the single digits a couple of days this winter and no evidence of frostbite or discomfort.

It helps if you buy birds with rose or pea combs and are large and winter hardy. Now my roos all have very large combs and wattles, but are no worse for wear.

 

[chicken lover223]

nope........