Heat lamp vs Heating Pad

[casportpony]

@YvonneBack, I'm in the SF Bay Area too, and I can promise you that you do not need supplemental heat *unless* one of your birds is sick. If you have a sick bird it should be kept in a room or cage that is 80-85 degrees f.

 

[shineandrise]

I agree with nearly all of these posts, I have lived in CA and I would think that nearly all places would NOT need supplemental heat. Most people get anxious about their flocks in the wintertime, but the truth is that if your chickens are over several months old with all their feathers, and your coop is wind-proof without many drafts, you don't need supplemental heat. However, some parts of CA can get chilly like in the mountains or far bay area. You want your chickens to be comfortable, but the risk of a fire is always a possibility. Heating pads do work, but you probably don't even need to spend the money on them. Here is a helpful article you can take a look at: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/fire-safety-in-the-coop-and-barn.72414/

 

[lovesfarms]

Never thought about putting hay in there vs straw, hmmm. Besides being softer, do you think it's warmer? I like the idea about hay with shavings in their boxes.

I like the alfalfa hay cause besides warm bedding, they love to scratch in it and eat the leaves!

 

[shineandrise]

I like the alfalfa hay cause besides warm bedding, they love to scratch in it and eat the leaves!

Yes, we have used both regular hay, shavings, and, alfalfa hay. Although I think I like shavings best. Because the regular hay is kind of expensive. And we were given the alfalfa so I don't know how much it costs. They are all similar and work the same though!

 

[casportpony]

I like the alfalfa hay cause besides warm bedding, they love to scratch in it and eat the leaves!

very expensive! Here in the SF Bay Area, 100 pound bales are ~$20.

 

[Highbrook Farm]

I like the alfalfa hay cause besides warm bedding, they love to scratch in it and eat the leaves!

Mine all love their hay! I put fresh hay in their run almost every day too. It gives them something to do. They love it when its just fresh, and they can scratch around in it i have mixed in shavings, just for the winter, because I’m thinking it will be warmer. But i really don’t know for sure. It cant hurt though

 

[Highbrook Farm]

very expensive! Here in the SF Bay Area, 100 pound bales are ~$20.

Depending on how many chickens you have, a hundred pound bale is going to last a very long time!! I think that’s pretty good bang for your buck!! I buy 50 pound bales, and i think they are around $13.00. They last me a couple of weeks, and that’s for inside and out, so, pretty reasonable i figure.

 

[Highbrook Farm]

I like the alfalfa hay cause besides warm bedding, they love to scratch in it and eat the leaves!

I think its warmer than straw. It’s so much finer, that i think it keeps the heat in better.

 

[Stayc]

Dont use heat it's only a fire waiting to happen and chickens are up to handling the cold. Dont feel like u aren't living up to caring for them because you dont provide heat, they honestly dont need it! I live in Virginia and I put a wind block up but never ever put heat lamps in a coop,please. It's just an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Suburban-nite]

I thought some chicken breeds cannot tolerate low temperatures. I can’t imagine that every breed of chicken can tolerate below freezing temps.