Heat lamp or no heat lamp for cold weather?

[AshleyBickle]

My chickens haven't had a heat lamp since they left the brooder and moved to the chicken coop. They are now about 16 weeks old and i live in cold cold Northern Michigan. Of course its not cold here yet but its going to be soon. So i am confused as wether or not to put a heat lamp in their chicken coop for winter or not. And if so is it going to mess up their routines since they haven't had a heat lamp in the coop since they were 8 weeks old? HELP!

 

[HEChicken]

I wouldn't. Chickens can tolerate the cold very well and a heat lamp will increase your fire risk. Every winter you will see threads about coops that burnt down and the fire was almost always started by a heat lamp mishap.

I'm further south than you. Nevertheless we get some pretty cold days here in the winter. I've known it to stay in the single digits for a week at a time. The chickens did just fine. You will want a way to keep their water from freezing and for that I use a heated dog water bowl.

 

[BellevueOmlet]

What breed are they. Many chickens can tolerate pretty extreme temperatures without any problem. Just make sure they are well fed and have fresh water.

If they are a breed that can handle the cold temps, make sure their coop blocks the cold wind from hitting them directly and you'll be fine. The problem with heat lamps is they get dependant on them so they will be more effected if the bulb goes out after they get used to it.

I used a heat lamp my first year with my first flock because I felt bad but the second winter, I realized they did not need it and they did well.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I'm just east of you, in the Au Sable valley, which as you know, is consistently 8 degrees colder than you are over on the bay. We don't provide any heat at all during the winter. Chickens have been kept in Iceland, Scandinavia, Canada and were, in fact, mostly bred and created by New Englanders. Sure, there are some warmer weather breeds that might not do as well up here in the northlands, but we've had no problems whatsoever with the standard breeds, called the Americans. Barred Rocks, Wyandottes, Red Sex Links, Black Sex Links, production reds, etc. Good ventilation and deep straw, quality feed (yes, they do eat more calories) and heated dog dishes to keep them in water.

 

[Imp]

My chickens haven't had a heat lamp since they left the brooder and moved to the chicken coop. They are now about 16 weeks old and i live in cold cold Northern Michigan. Of course its not cold here yet but its going to be soon. So i am confused as wether or not to put a heat lamp in their chicken coop for winter or not. And if so is it going to mess up their routines since they haven't had a heat lamp in the coop since they were 8 weeks old? HELP!

Using heat in a coop is not necessary for chickens to survive, but many chicken owners use heat and/or light for the chickens comfort, as well as their own peace of mind. Chickens are vulnerable to frostbite, infection and potentially death from the cold. It's not common. but can happen
Adding either does not mess up their routines. Hens may lay more, move around more.
If you or anyone decides to use heat, you do not need to heat to brooding temperatures, or use a heat lamp.

Imp

 

[SJUDD]

My best friend uses light for their coop but it is on a timer and is just to stimulate the same daylight hours as summer so that her egg production does not go down... however, she sells her eggs so there would be missing profit involved for her. I do not sell my eggs and do not use a heat lamp. Of course I don't think we get as cold as you do there.... I think our temps dropped to about 38 last winter.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

That is something I have been wondering since I have bantams this year. I sould use a timer too but do you use a reg light bulb or so you use an infared light or something that isnt bright in there, how and when would you or will my fragile 2 lb birds be ok???? sorry not trying to steal your post AshleyB

 

[AshleyBickle]

I was leaning more towards not using a heat lamp and with all the great advise i believe thats the right way to go. But since you have cold winters like i do here do you do anything for the chickens crowns to protect them from frost bite. Ive read horror stories of peoples chickens who have lost part of their crown due to below zero temperatures. Ive read putting petroleum jelly on them to prevent frost bite. Do you do anything to prevent frost bite or im i over thinking it? Because i definitely may be!

 

[SJUDD]

I used a regular light bulb on the one for my baby ducks, it seemed to work fine.

 

[azygous]

No where is it mentioned how many chickens you have. This is the deciding factor in whether you will need to provide additional heat for them during the coldest months.

It's been my experience that a dozen or more chickens will generate enough heat on their own to keep the coop warmer than the outside temp, and they will be able to huddle close together to transfer their heat to one another.

However, under a dozen chickens may not generate enough heat, and a heat lamp, properly hung so no flammable objects come into contact with it, including the mechanism by which it's hung, would be a help to them.

I have a heat lamps on timers that come on during the three or four coldest hours of the early morning during the deep winter when it gets down to zero and below. I have fourteen hens in one coop and one roo in another. I opt to play it safe so I don't have to worry about frostbite.