heat lamp question

[torrelee]

My boyfriend and I built a coop into what was a green house frame so it has the corrugated fiberglass roofing, not clear but lets in light. The coop is approximately 4' by 6' with a 6' by 12' outdoor run for my 5 birds. The girls generally free range all day, and head back into their house around dusk, unless its raining, then they hang out in the covered run. I currently have a heat lamp hanging in the coop with the girls and the temperature here runs between 40 at night and 55 during the day. Is it necesssary to keep a heat lamp year round, or can I unplug it during the warmer months and use it during the winter?

 

[JenEric Farms]

I live in Maine and do not use a heat lamp at all outside. I keep a heat lamp on the baby chicks in the house...

 

[Break an Egg]

Just use it during winter. Chickens can handle the cold much better than they can handle the heat.

 

[chickendude]

I only use a heat lamp in my brooder on young chicks. I am in NY and the coldest temp we had this passed winter was 14 below zero. I have never given them any form of heat and they all did great. You will be better of getting them used to no heat. What area of the country are you in?

 

[Fred's Hens]

+1

Chickens bred in and for northern cold climates (not banties or exotics) simply fluff their feathers and adjust. We had a few nights at -30 and many at -10 and they could have cared less. No heat. No insulation. (that just provides a home for rodents). Excellent ventilation is far important. Humidity is the enemy, not cold.

 

[torrelee]

I'm in northern California, and my girls are australorps. We have pretty mild summers and winters, not usually below freezing temperatures, and never more than 80 degrees in the summer.The girls are well feathered and pretty fat and sassy. I think they should be fine without the lamp. Is there anything I should watch for to indicate that they may need it back??

 

[mdbokc]

They won't need it back.

 

[torrelee]

Roger, Thanks for your help everyone!

 

[Judy]

Quote:
X2. Really. You do them no favors providing heat. They need to get acclimated to whatever temp they live in. If they're used to heat and the heat lamp burns out in a cold snap, they can be in trouble. Mine are already panting and holding their wings out (a bit warm, in other words) at 80 degrees.

The only times chickens need heat is before they are 3-4 weeks old, and MAYBE in Alaska at times. Even in Alaska, people keep chickens with no heat, or only on the worst of nights.

 

[elmo]

The only other reason I can think of to provide supplemental heat to a full grown chicken would be if she was ill or egg bound, something like that. Providing a bit of extra warmth to a bird in a hospital cage is frequently recommended.