Hi: We live in Central Texas and nights are starting to get a little chilly (around 50 degrees). Should I provide my chickens with a source of heat? I have noticed that the egg production is going down and maybe if they are kept warm they will continue to lay. Thanks!
A lot of people here live in the north and do not heat their coops unless it gets below freezing. See the thread "How cold is TOO cold for a chicken?": https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=97134
I live in Florida. I put a heat lamp on when a frost is forcasted or when it gets below 40 degrees. I'm a softie. I do keep a red sign light bulb on in my coop. for every 6 birds I get 4/5 eggs a day.
I live in SW Arkansas, so our temps. are not that far off of yours in central Texas. I've only closed the windows on our coop twice so far; two nights when it got down to 40. I intend to only close the windows when it's 40 or below and I definitely won't be heating their coop; other than a heater for the waterer. My chickens are loving this cooler weather. The slight decrease in egg production I've noticed I'm sure has more to do with the decrease in daylight hours than temps. IMO, it's better to let the chickens acclimate to colder temperatures naturally than to provide them with artificial heat when they don't need it. Electricity to power those heaters does go out in the wintertime and if your chickens aren't acclimated to the cold, that's when they'll have trouble.
I had this same question, but was reassured when MissPrissy posted a comment about how well feathered birds will be just fine in all but the very coldest weather without extra heat. What I have taken that to mean for me (in mid-western NH) is below 0 degrees a heat light would be ok, and below freezing (in the coop mind you) a heated waterer would be a good idea. Keep food and liquid water in front of well feathered birds in deep litter and they should be ok. In fact, they should be comfortable. -Christian
