feed in coop

[CluckerFamily]

It depends where you live. I have a heat lamp ready to use on those below 0F days. Especially, when it is -20F for weeks long.

 

[kader]

here in mass we usually only get a few cold snaps in jan - feb where it gets -5 to 10 degrees

 

[CluckerFamily]

You could always have it hooked up ready to use to see if you even need it this winter. Then all you would have to do is plug in the heat lamp and you won't be fumbling with the installing of it. It also depends on your coop and how many chickens you have. They are great heaters them self.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Do a search about coop fires. Red lamps being used on adult birds is the absolute main cause.

Size of coop may not allow birds to choose to be under it or away from it causing overheating, burned feathers or the birds to crash into it causing breakage or fires.

Properly acclimated birds have grown new feathers in preparation for cold weather. Heating the coop can cause birds to not grow the needed feathers and a power outage is most likely going to happen in the absolute worst weather. It is a shock to their systems and can be deadly.

In winter birds need really good and proper ventilation to allow moist air caused by their breathing and droppings to escape. Proper ventilation makes heating moot/useless.

Those people living in extremes where temps are -20F or colder for weeks on end may need to heat their coops. The rest of us not so much.

 

[jreardon1918]

Also in Mass. The run is 3 years old. Nothing has broken through yet. So we leave the pop door open. Food and water in the run. No heater or light in the coop. So far this has worked for us.
One hen got a bit of frostbite last year. I blame that on the roosts being very close to the wall and ceiling. We lowered and moved the roosts away from the walls. The water needs a stock tank heater to keep the horizontal nipples flowing.