Heat lamp in Winter???

DON'T DO IT!!! We used a heat lamp for one night. The next morning one of my hens had short brown feathers on her back. She slept too near the heat lamp and the feathers scorched!
 
We have a heat lamp installed behind wire and are setting it up with a theromostat so that it gets no warmer than 40 degrees (that's the lowest setting we can find). Days here average around 35 -40 in winters and I don't want them to be too warm in coop that they can't handle being outside during the day. Nights can be quite cold so I figure that a little extra heat won't be too bad for them. Hopefully, with the deep litter method and their high body heat the lamp won't come on much anyway.

We did make a wire enclosure so that they don't get burned and to make sure that it does not get near the bedding. We will also be able to use that area under it as a brooder in the spring if needed.

Here's a pic:
25643_img_0525.jpg

The lamp is low in this pic because we had the little girls in at the time (last spring). The lamp can be raised and lowered and there is an access door. We also have all the electrical outlets and junction box (for future expansion LOL) behind the enclosure.
 
My brother lives in Michigan. His chickens don't have a coop they just live in his barn. Here is a pic of some of his birds. This is an older picture.

Image1.jpg
 
Thanks everyone. ALL the advise is great. I guess I'll have to see how my chickens handle the weather. I think I'll still put electricity in. I will have a dish warmer anyway. If I think that they'll need heat...at least the power is there to do it.
 
It's always nice to have electricity in the the coop just in case you need it. But I would be very careful to plug in anything when you're not around (or awake) to supervise unless you have to.

Also, go by how they look: if they're huddled together shivering, they're too cold. If they look comfortable and are resting easy when you check on them, then they don't need extra heat.
 

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