Heater or heat panel -10

[Echelontheory101]

Most of that info isn’t included in the original post when someone asks about heat, yet people often jump in immediately, convinced they already have the answer.

Absolutely this! I am a newcomer to BYC and I am new to having my OWN chickens on my OWN property but I am NOT new to agriculture, processing meat, farming etc and have decades of experience and while I have really grown to love this BYC community there are absoltuely people in here who feel that their xyz years of experience in their particular climate, in their particular set up, in their particular breeds, makes them an expert in ALL facets of chicken keeping in ALL climates and in ALL situations and that theyre right and everyone else is ridiculous for even asking whatever the question was and treats anyone asking any question with a not small dose of condescension. As someone newer to this forum there are absolutely questions I wanted to ask and didn't because I knew what the response was going to be from all the experienced folks saying "I've been doing it for 8 billion years I can't believe you would even ask that". And there are things that I did post that I immediately regretted posting but unfortunately can't delete on these forums and just stopped replying.

People need to realize that anecdotal evidence does not equal facts on both side of any argument. Just because something works for you does not mean it's always going to work for someone else( this goes for treatments for illnesses, Heat, feed type, fermenting not fermenting, inside brooder outside brooder, ventilation sealed up, plastic no plastic, water heater no water heater, treats no treats, free range no free range Etc) just because you have certain feelings and empathy around the comfort of your animals does not mean someone else having a little bit more empathy or wanting a little more comfort for their animals makes them some sort of failure at animal husbandry.

AND we still want the advice from those folks its invaluable information and a net positive for the forum but the thing is it should be ADVICE. "I have 30 years of experience and this is how I do it and what works for me and here's why" not "I do it this way so you have to do it this way and everyone else is wrong" that way people can collect what works well for lots of people abd decide what they want to do from there

 

[Three Stents]

Absolutely this! I am a newcomer to BYC and I am new to having my OWN chickens on my OWN property but I am NOT new to agriculture, processing meat, farming etc and have decades of experience and while I have really grown to love this BYC community there are absoltuely people in here who feel that their xyz years of experience in their particular climate, in their particular set up, in their particular breeds, makes them an expert in ALL facets of chicken keeping in ALL climates and in ALL situations and that theyre right and everyone else is ridiculous for even asking whatever the question was and treats anyone asking any question with a not small dose of condescension. As someone newer to this forum there are absolutely questions I wanted to ask and didn't because I knew what the response was going to be from all the experienced folks saying "I've been doing it for 8 billion years I can't believe you would even ask that". And there are things that I did post that I immediately regretted posting but unfortunately can't delete on these forums and just stopped replying.

People need to realize that anecdotal evidence does not equal facts on both side of any argument. Just because something works for you does not mean it's always going to work for someone else( this goes for treatments for illnesses, Heat, feed type, fermenting not fermenting, inside brooder outside brooder, ventilation sealed up, plastic no plastic, water heater no water heater, treats no treats, free range no free range Etc) just because you have certain feelings and empathy around the comfort of your animals does not mean someone else having a little bit more empathy or wanting a little more comfort for their animals makes them some sort of failure at animal husbandry.

AND we still want the advice from those folks its invaluable information and a net positive for the forum but the thing is it should be ADVICE. "I have 30 years of experience and this is how I do it and what works for me and here's why" not "I do it this way so you have to do it this way and everyone else is wrong" that way people can collect what works well for lots of people abd decide what they want to do from there

I'm new here too, but I don't have the experience with raising farm animals like you and others. I see the debate on heat vs no heat, leaning more and more to having heat. The "snobs" that have been doing this for 8 billion years are realizing their opinions are no longer gospel. As Dr Laura Schlessinger says, "now go do the right thing"

 

[Echelontheory101]

I'm new here too, but I don't have the experience with raising farm animals like you and others. I see the debate on heat vs no heat, leaning more and more to having heat. The "snobs" that have been doing this for 8 billion years are realizing their opinions are no longer gospel.

I use cozy coop panels and a huddle box so they can heat themselves when they feel they need it.

While I understand the frustration I dont think they mean to be snobs or always are in every scenario. Not to generalize but there are certain generations that do feel their word is gospel and that years alive or years of experience trumps all and have a certain level of self reflection developed or resistance to new ways of doing things and theyre not used to being challenged on it, and they probably have no idea theyre coming off that way or if they do they dont care and the latter I would feel comfortable calling a snob bur not necessarily the former, but havent come across really any of those in BYC. (The chicken FB groups are another story though )

 

[Ted Brown]

@Three Stents

The debate in this thread is NOT heat vs no heat, that is an individual choice. It is about how information is presented.

As has already been said this forum is for folks to express "opinions and experiences" not make absolute statements without solid scientific evidence.

 

[Three Stents]

@Three Stents

The debate in this thread is NOT heat vs no heat, that is an individual choice. It is about how information is presented.

As has already been said this forum is for folks to express "opinions and experiences" not make absolute statements without solid scientific evidence.

providing heat or no heat does not need "scientific evidence", just common sense.

 

[Awaytome]

If that happened, it would be a pretty clear indication that they prefer the warmer temperatures.

If you try it, please do report back with the results.

High temps in the mid-high forties here, and my Bielefelders have been spending days sheltering in the small sheds with south facing side open. Foraging activity is minimal. End of day they go back to their coop (unheated). It isn’t a heated coop scenario to compare to, but they do appear to prefer the warmer environment of the sheds at lower daytime temps. I’m thinking of adding a warming plate to the coop for over night comfort now.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

This nipple waterer was right next to a Cozy Coop heater in our growout shed last night, and it froze. The eight silkies in there, which were around 4 months old, were all up next to it so maybe they blocked any heat getting away from it. Still, for this to freeze with 8 chickens and a heater in a small shed, you know it's cold! -11F was the low last night.

View attachment 4266454

It froze because the cozy coop heater needs to have physical contact between the birds. It isn’t going to project enough heat to keep a nearby water source from freezing.

 

[IowaCHKN]

sorry. Didn't mean to make a debate thread. Was just looking for opinions. Again. We get -20 degrees weather. All/ any studies are great to make ones own decision.. Was looking to see what others have done. NOT to heat but only to take that deep chill off on extreme times.

 

[NatJ]

sorry. Didn't mean to make a debate thread.

Sometimes these things happen. It seems to be rather random for any topic, based on who sees it and what they post

(Edit in case it is not clear: I am laughing at the situation that happened, not at you personally.)

Was just looking for opinions. Again. We get -20 degrees weather. All/ any studies are great to make ones own decision.. Was looking to see what others have done. NOT to heat but only to take that deep chill off on extreme times.

You certainly got some opinions!
Hopefully we all helped you to reach a decision about what you want to do for your flock. And of course you can change plans based on how you see your chickens acting, because they know more about their own comfort than any of us guessing on the internet!

 

[Ted Brown]

It has become abundantly clear that the horses will remain thirsty.