Heat lamp vs Heating Pad

[21hens-incharge]

I would choose the shavings. They are more absorbent than straw and not prone to mold.

My roosts are 24" above the shavings.

 

[WindingRoad]

The responses I've gotten re no heat source needed has me greatly puzzled, however I bow to your expertise. That being said, then would shavings be a 'warmer' nesting vs straw during the chilly nights?

What are you puzzled about? Put you hand under a bird's wing. Warm under there correct? Now put your hand under a nesting chicken warm almost hot under there. Now I live in Maine California won't see -30 F at night but I will and so will my birds. I just went out to the coop and it's 34F outside with the coop doors open and windy. Too cold for this Maniah. But one of my molting skinny WLH was laying on three eggs now I know she didn't just lay three eggs. But I couldn't tell which one ( if she did lay) she might have laid. She was keeping them warm. Natural instinct. She's not broody.

Chickens have 2 coats just as some dogs do. Huskies etc. They have a down coat that they fluff over their feet. And then they have their feathers and they fluff them up also. And they snuggle at night either putting their heads under each other or under their wing.

What you need to keep them warm in the winter is a dry coop with lots of ventilation. Birds build up moisture in the coop what with pooping, breathing etc. A dry coop is a warm coop. Birds don't sweat. They run at 106F. when someone complains about me not insulating or heating my coop I tell them I have 13 mini heaters in there.

I guess you have to decide if you want eggs or fried chicken. Me, I'd go with eggs.

 

[aart]

The responses I've gotten re no heat source needed has me greatly puzzled, however I bow to your expertise. That being said, then would shavings be a 'warmer' nesting vs straw during the chilly nights?

Please define "chilly' in degrees Fahrenheit.
Their feathers keep them warm.
Ventilation is way more important than bedding or heat.
Shavings are better bedding, IMO.
But what bedding works best for you may depend on how you manage the manure.

 

[YvonneBack]

I also say NO to a heat lamp in a coop with grown birds.

Definitely not needed in California.

One year we had negative 16 for the low with a naked leghorn. Yup hard molt in sub zero temps. Hubs felt sorry for her so put a sealed oil heater in the coop on low. EVERY chicken avoided that entire end of the coop. That confirmed for me that they do not need added heat.

Thanks for that, -16 doesn't happen here that's for sure.

 

[YvonneBack]

Most of it anyway, there are mountainous areas that can get gnarly.
But the Bay area, pffft.......no need for any heat.

Thanks for the phfft , I hear ya.

 

[YvonneBack]

Our coop has pine shavings and a decent amount of ventilation. The coop is always dry. The humidity/temp stays close to the outdoor conditions. The chicks/hens have done well for 3 1/2 years. The lowest temp I recall is about -5F. Our chicks roost 20" above the pine shavings. Hopefully this helps.

Thank you.

 

[Kat21]

With winter coming, this weekend we dusted off the heat lamp and checked the wiring to make sure it was ready to go when chilly nights arrive here in the Bay Area of California. Now I know it cannot possibly compare to the 'real' winter many chicken lovers on this forum have, that being said, what with Chelsy deciding to go into full molting she is gonna get chilly in the house with her bff without some heat source. Every winter I worry about the safety re the combination of straw and heat lamp even though the lamp is a good 4+ feet over the straw bedding I still get worried. Is a heating pad a better idea? and if so, what about the possibility of scratching and pecking at the pad? Or do you think the heat lamp is fine? I have two roosting bars so they can either get close to the lamp or scootch away from it.

I find the heat lamp over better to be honest, at least they can move out of the heat of they get too hot. The heat pad I found creates too much heat for a bigger radius. And my chooks were constantly trying to move away from it. And yes they did peck at it too which was concerning.
The straw /lamp combo will be fine. I only use straw and have never had issue with it
Hope this helps

 

[YvonneBack]

What are you puzzled about? Put you hand under a bird's wing. Warm under there correct? Now put your hand under a nesting chicken warm almost hot under there. Now I live in Maine California won't see -30 F at night but I will and so will my birds. I just went out to the coop and it's 34F outside with the coop doors open and windy. Too cold for this Maniah. But one of my molting skinny WLH was laying on three eggs now I know she didn't just lay three eggs. But I couldn't tell which one ( if she did lay) she might have laid. She was keeping them warm. Natural instinct. She's not broody.

Chickens have 2 coats just as some dogs do. Huskies etc. They have a down coat that they fluff over their feet. And then they have their feathers and they fluff them up also. And they snuggle at night either putting their heads under each other or under their wing.

What you need to keep them warm in the winter is a dry coop with lots of ventilation. Birds build up moisture in the coop what with pooping, breathing etc. A dry coop is a warm coop. Birds don't sweat. They run at 106F. when someone complains about me not insulating or heating my coop I tell them I have 13 mini heaters in there.

I guess you have to decide if you want eggs or fried chicken. Me, I'd go with eggs.

Thanks for taking the time to write all that. Our lowest temps don't even come close to yours that's for sure. I'm well aware of the temperature of a chicken, my main concern was the chicken with no down. Just an fyi there are only 2 chickens in our flock, never more, never less so huddling together won't be as effective as yours but I hear what you're saying.

 

[NatJ]

when chilly nights arrive here in the Bay Area of California. Now I know it cannot possibly compare to the 'real' winter many chicken lovers on this forum have

When it hits 32 degrees and the water gets ice on top, why would a chicken be a different amount cold in a different climate? They can't look ahead and say "January will be much worse, so this must be fine." They just have today's temperature, and the feathers they grew as it got cooler over the previous weeks and months.

I agree with the other people who are saying dry, out of the wind, no added heat.

 

[YvonneBack]

I find the heat lamp over better to be honest, at least they can move out of the heat of they get too hot. The heat pad I found creates too much heat for a bigger radius. And my chooks were constantly trying to move away from it. And yes they did peck at it too which was concerning.
The straw /lamp combo will be fine. I only use straw and have never had issue with it
Hope this helps

Thank you for answering about the heating pad; that's what I was thinking might happen.