Heat Lamp Question

[Charlie Chicken]

Well for an example, up here in Maine temps below zero are not uncommon in winter and I have never used supplementary heat. The birds do quite well.

I do use a 50 watt base heater under their water pan to keep their water from freezing but that has no effect on the temperature in the coop. It just allows them to have access to water and makes it easier for me when I change their water pan every morning.

The only thing I do different is to collect the eggs earlier in the day so that I can get them before they freeze.

 

[horsewishr]

Well, Charlie, I'm glad you mentioned the wind chill thing. It always bugs me, too, when people include it in a chicken discussion. The chickens aren't out in the wind. The feathers vs. naked skin is an excellent point, too.

But what about the fact chickens can get frostbite on their combs when temps dip? That's what I worry about. It's hard to imagine that an animal with a comb is designed for temperatures approaching zero.

 

[Charlie Chicken]

Yes, you are correct. Frozen combs can be a problem. Birds with rose combs or pea combs don't have that problem but the large comb breeds are susceptible to frostbite. The tips of the comb can often be frostbitten but it usually isn't very serious. The injury is similar to what they have when they get involved in a battle with another chicken which happens all the time.

Like everything else in this world, nothing is perfect and a no heat policy isn't without some imperfection. "Ya pays your money & takes your choice" but for myself, I'll take the healthy & hardy birds that live under a no heat policy and trade it for the slight possibility of an occasional frostbitten comb.

 

[Churkenduse]

May I ask why you feel the need to add supplemental heat to the coop?

Is the coop draft free?
Are the birds being fed properly?

If the birds have plenty to eat they will generate a tremendous amount of body heat. If you pick up one of those chickens and place your hand under that down and feather coat they are wearing you will discover that its quite warm in there.

Us humans are built different than chickens and don't have that kind of insulation so we need supplemental heat to feel comfortable.

I agree with Charlie Chicken:My friend who raised chickens for many many years told me I was crazy to supplement the heating. Chickens were built to live outside it's like trying to build a heated room for the wolves. It is not natural for them to be heated. Mine do just fine with no heat, have not lost one and it was sub zero last night and they are outside right now soaking up the sunlight and having fun.
Just my opinion.

 

[Wildsky]

I got really TERRIFIED going out to feed them in the morning when it was below zero - I could NOT stand that feeling of wondering if they were still ALIVE.....

 

[Cabbage]

Quote:
My chickens do fine in the cold. It's been well below zero in the coop several days in a row. So far so good. Chickens are hardy little birds.

 

[Charlie Chicken]

Quote:

Yep, It's hard sometimes to remember that we are humans and they are chickens. But when we can do it and try to understand how they operate ("Think like a chicken") we usually make the right decisions.

 

[Brian]

OK, you all can do what you like, but for me, I'll be doing the following:

1. I have five roosting rungs on my roosting ladder. I will be buying five heating pads, and duct taping them to the rungs. One for each rung. On the top rung, I will set the temp on "10" for super duper warmth! The lowest rung will be set on "1". The others will be in between temps.

2. During those cold months, I will go to the hen house at 8pm. I'll lift each hen from it's perch, weigh it with a small digital scale, and the lighter ones I'll place on the top rung, and the heavies will go respectively further down, as they'll be generating less natural body heat.

3. I will work up a mathematical algorithm, based on body mass, for giving each individual hen, a cracked corn snack while I'm out their weighing them. So...thus far, for your review, I'll go out to the hen house at 8pm, and I'll turn on their heating pads, I'll then weigh them, snack 'em and stack 'em!

4. I'm not done! Since my wife has some old pantyhose she no longer wears, I'll salvage that. Yes. I'll throw a few stitches in some of the beanies I'll be making. Let's face it, some birds have large combs that get cold. Their out their flopping all over the place loosey goosey. I figure, as long as I'm out their weighing them, snacking and stacking them, I may as well slip on a few custom-fit beanies on their head. Since these are sheer pantyhose, they'll be fit on the hens heads like little bank robber masks, yes indeed! Right over the whole head. That way, their combs won't be shamelessly dangling every which way like some floozy, just begging jack frost for a bite.

So, just for a moment, imagine in your minds eye, how comfy-cozy all my hens will now be. Since you can see through pantyhose, some hens can stay up late into the night, just looking around (and not be cold doing it)! Which leads me to, that's right, #5!

5. Finally...I have an old 13" tv set (with built-in video player) we no longer use. Hey...why not! I'm going to make a video of things like pasta being made, worms crawling through soft earth, sun drenched sand dunes , etc. I say, let those with beanies stay up late watching the Chicken Channel!

I think it speaks volumes that so many of you are such thoughtful and conscientious owners of your birds. Truly! Your worry may be warranted or unwarranted. I really can't say, and I'm sure that such variables as breed, age of the bird, current immune system status, etc, all play a role: one which we can't always measure. I suspect that most chickens that appear to have substantial coats and a healthy gleam in their eye during daytime, may be able to handle bitter cold just fine. After all, most birds come with remarkably similar coats, and it gets bitter cold over that vast majority of the planet. Only a few species migrate. However, the colder it gets, the more it will likely push that cold-survival envelope. All things have their limits. Just don't over-do it if you use heat. I may cause harm.

Brian

 

[Cabbage]

Temp in my coop has hit 20 below. I have only 5 bantums (2 buff orps., and 3 brahmas.) They all do fine.

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:

Yep, It's hard sometimes to remember that we are humans and they are chickens. But when we can do it and try to understand how they operate ("Think like a chicken") we usually make the right decisions.

I try to imagine what it would feel like if I was out there wrapped in a down comforter..... with a couple of buddies

I TRY - but I still feel so bad for them!