Heating for winter help

[Tortoise]

First I know it's best to not heat the coop. I just don't know if I can do that.
I never lose power (knocking on wood) and because of my tortoises, and the harsh winter we have had so far this year, we will be adding a generator for added relief incase. My tortoises can't go without heat and one is too big to lift to move to heat safety.
So with that, I will also have back up for the chickens of which i will only be having two.
My idea is too either heat just a roosting bar, a 2x4 with the center channeled out and a heat rope laid within the channel.
Or
Make a heat box within the coop that was fully enclosed except for a small door they could go thru. The heat source would be a pig blanket or a reptile heat panel. Both can go on a thermostat and safe to the touch. Which ever one I used would be placed on the ceiling of the heat box and heated to 40 something.
My questions:
1-Has anyone done this?
2-Would this work without keeping them too warm so they could still handle going outside?
3-Should I just heat the whole coop?
Thank you for any and all input.

 

[cavemanrich]

In my opinion the heated roost bar sounds good. That is what I'm considering in my new coop when that happens. My current situation is somewhat different. I provide winter housing inside my garage loft area. I also kept pigeons there, but currently no pigeons. Garage is heated with a Wood Stove during EXTREME COLD. (like what we had couple weeks ago.) The temps inside the garage even without heating are somewhat higher than outdoors. It is dry, and ventilated well.
One of our local chicken keepers uses a heater like this in her Bantam Coop.

Available on Amazon, and elsewhere.
Wishing you best,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Tortoise]

In my opinion the heated roost bar sounds good. That is what I'm considering in my new coop when that happens. My current situation is somewhat different. I provide winter housing inside my garage loft area. I also kept pigeons there, but currently no pigeons. Garage is heated with a Wood Stove during EXTREME COLD. (like what we had couple weeks ago.) The temps inside the garage even without heating are somewhat higher than outdoors. It is dry, and ventilated well.
One of our local chicken keepers uses a heater like this in her Bantam Coop.

Available on Amazon, and elsewhere.
Wishing you best,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thanks for your response. I have seen those heaters and thought about them too. I'm familiar with the ones I mentioned as I already use them for my tortoises. I would have to buy one for the chickens so will look into all.