heat for coop

[ctjim]

i need to get something to heat my coop for those nights where it gets in the single digits and less. my coop windows face south so they get sun almost all day in the winter. i've been looking at heat lamps but i am weary of a fire if they knock the lamp down. if i get a heat lamp what size bulb and what type red or infared? i was also wondering if they sell a 125watt or less bulb as that would seem to be a bit safer than 250 or higher. i've been also looking around work for an extra bucket heater, which is a heater for the "bucket" on an aerial lift truck, think electric company, they are a small sq box which uses forced hot air kinad like a hair dryer if i can get one i may mount it on the ceiling and build a duct to make the warm air flow down.the heat coming out is also adjustable. any other thoughts on usable heat sources would be great. thanks jim

 

[justusnak]

Hey jim....I usually dont heat my coops....mainly because they need to acclimate to the weather, just in case of a power failure. My main coop is a lean too for the shop, where there is a wood stove. When the nights are severly cold...I can just fire up the stove out there, and it takes a chill off. Im thinking of trying to put a stove in the other coop as well. Just something small....that they cant get too. Well away from straw, and such. Its in the planning stage so far...so...will have to see how/IF it works out.

 

[tiffanyh]

Hi Jim,
Im in CT too. I dont usually heat my coops either. I do have a small energy saving light bulb (since they give off less heat/worried about fire) for laying purposed that goes on a few hours in the am. But otherwise, no heat. I do load up my small dog house coops with hay up against the wall AND I pile bails of hay on top and sides. Everyone cuddles together and do frostbite or anything. They all seem very comfortable..... I dont feel comfortable doing anything else since my cooph has low ceilings.

I have 7 birds in one coop, 6 bantams in another and two in an "I get picked on" coop.

If you are looking though, I did see something on one of the posted advertisements here that was a ceramic bulb instead os a light bulb, seemed like a neat idea!

 

[ctjim]

i was talking w/ a old gent who i pass everyday on the way to work who has chickens. he said to not really worry too much about the artifical heat source. he has a few small coops made of plywood and they each have about a 2x2 cutout where a window would be only his have a metal grate instead of glass, and no alternate heating they face south for morning sun and where they're located i'm not sure they get any afternoon sun. my coop is a bit larger than his but i have a good floor w/plenty of shavings and i have sealed up most of the drafts i could find, i do however want to lower the roost a bit thats near the door as there's a draft near the top of the door.i think i'm over reacting to this anyway, i just want to make sure that the birds are comfy.