Heat lamps

[caracara13]

I am getting ready to bring some chickens home-- 2 hens and one rooster. The coop is for 2-4 chickens. How many heat lamps and what wattage do I need?

 

[Haunted55]

Are we talking chickens or chicks. What's the weather like where you are, what are the lowest night time temps and are they going right into the coop and not a brooder?

 

[caracara13]

They are a year and a half. NW PA. For the rest of the year it might get low 20s, high teens at night.

 

[Haunted55]

Are they coming from a place that had them in a heated coop? Is your coop insulated? If they are from someone local, not housed in a heated coop before, don't bother. They are already acclimated to the temps.. If they are coming from a heated coop, a single 250 watt red bulb should do it, but it may be too much depending on the size of your building. I use outside thermometers that send the temps to a base you can keep inside your house. Wally has them for right around $10.00. There are so many variables you could be dealing with. For your peace of mind try to get the thermometer and it will take any guess work out of the equation.

 

[Jo Anne]

Golden feather the thermometer you mentioned I would like one who is wally

 

[Haunted55]

Golden feather the thermometer you mentioned I would like one who is wally

Sorry, lol, it's WalMart, or as a few of us call it, Wally World. They are a relly nice thing to have!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

You don't really need a "heat lamp"
A couple of normal 100 Watt bulbs in reflector hoods will give you all the heat you need for a lot less money

 

[lokua]

I also live in western PA and mine have been in an unheated/uninsulated coop from 8 weeks of age on without issue. As long as your coop is dry and draft free they will be fine. If the previous owner used heat I would just do exactly what they did, that is what the birds will be acclimated to.