- Nov 9, 2011
- 22
- 0
- 22
Its our first winter with our birds and I'm wondering if we ought not to be heating our chickens & ducks?? We live in Oklahoma and our winters aren't that bad. Lows generally are in the 20-& 30's. A few times a year, we might get down to the teens or so. They are all about 8 months old. At the moment, we have a 250 Watt red heat lamp on the inside of the coop and a 125W clear lite on the outside of the coop, still inside the pen though (b/c our ducks dont go into the coop to sleep. However, they go into the coop to lay their eggs at times.)
Since we have added the lites, the chickens have all started roosting on their outdoor perch and not in the sheltered coop. This past summer and up until the lites were added, they would go into their coop at nite & not emerge out until daybreak.
So, are we overkill on the lites?? I kinda think so, but I would like to here it from experienced chicken lovers! Not to mention, I'm a bit worried what November's electricity bill will be?!
BTW: This pic was taken this summer. Since that time, we have also added clear corrugated plastic up 4' all the way around the pen to give them a wind block.
Since we have added the lites, the chickens have all started roosting on their outdoor perch and not in the sheltered coop. This past summer and up until the lites were added, they would go into their coop at nite & not emerge out until daybreak.
So, are we overkill on the lites?? I kinda think so, but I would like to here it from experienced chicken lovers! Not to mention, I'm a bit worried what November's electricity bill will be?!
BTW: This pic was taken this summer. Since that time, we have also added clear corrugated plastic up 4' all the way around the pen to give them a wind block.
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