heat tape

[myfarm4579]

Being my 1st winter with chickens I am considering making a warm wall with heated cord used in gutters. I would only use it if needed if temps fall below say-15 or so. Coop is about 5by8foot in size. Any one think it would work or not even bother with it. Just would like to do it before cold weather cold hardy breed except 1banty.Coop is well ventilated also. Any thoughts would be great

 

[iwiw60]

Chickens don't need heat...they need ventilation. They will do well down to -20 at times. You didn't say what part of the country you live in so it's hard to visualize your winter temps, but I live in snow country and we have a short period of time where it gets down to -10 to -20...I do not heat my coop.

 

[myfarm4579]

I live in michigan near the mighty Mac coop is all ventilated with Windows on all sides

 

[iwiw60]

Your chickens produce enough body heat when all together in the coop. Just make sure you are using a 2" x 4" laying FLAT for their roost bar, that's important. Why? Because they not only will be more comfortable (have you ever really looked at the size of those feet?

) and they can 'lay' on their feet to keep warmer. Ventilation is a must. I keep my two windows open about 3-4 inches all winter long. Condensation/humidity is deadly to chickens. It's hard for us 'humans' to remember that they're chickens...they don't like it hot like we do!