Heating or not? The temperature will barely touch 20F in my area.

[Fintechie]

I am thinking to re-purpose the heating lamp used when they were babies to keep the coop warm. Questions for experts -
1. I have a flock of 13 hens of almost 7 months old. Their coop is wood frame off the ground. Do they need supplemental heating?
2. If so, what's the trigger point of temperature? and what's target temperature to heat up to?
3. Will the heating lamp disturb the hens' rest at night? As the coldest period is at dead of night.
4. Any other suggestions?

 

[DobieLover]

I am thinking to re-purpose the heating lamp used when they were babies to keep the coop warm. Questions for experts -
1. I have a flock of 13 hens of almost 7 months old. Their coop is wood frame off the ground. Do they need supplemental heating?
2. If so, what's the trigger point of temperature? and what's target temperature to heat up to?
3. Will the heating lamp disturb the hens' rest at night? As the coldest period is at dead of night.
4. Any other suggestions?

Your pullets do not need any supplemental heat. They need a well ventilated, dry and draft free coop where there are no drafts on the roosting birds.
Birds generate their own heat and their feathers keep the heat in. They'll be fine.

 

[nchls school]

Supplemental heat would be a luxury for the flock in your avatar; a luxury they really don't need. Better to spend your money on high-quality feed a a heated water source so that liquid water is always available. You might want to research the different breeds in your flock but I doubt you have any that are not able to handle 20F. Some breeds do need supplemental heat. I have a heat lamp for our coldest days here in TN. We don't reach 20F either very often but that is very cold for Serama bantams and when the temps get to 25F the heat lamp goes on. On the other hand my longtail chickens have no supplemental heat and they will lay eggs and hatch chicks all winter.

 

[Fintechie]

The breeds I have - RIR, buff Orpington, barred rock, leghorn and EE. I think leghorn is the one least hardy among them given their big combs. Good points on the water- I start to use a retired rice cooker, good insulation and So far so good

 

[aart]

I have a flock of 13 hens of almost 7 months old. Their coop is wood frame off the ground. Do they need supplemental heating?

No heat needed...except for your waterer.
Post pic of your coop and run, inside and out, if you want some help with winterizing

 

[nchls school]

Vaseline rubbed on wattles and comb will help prevent frostbite should the hens have problems. My longtails free range so I plan on applying vaseline when, and if, the temperatures drop into the teens or lower.

 

[aart]

Vaseline rubbed on wattles and comb will help prevent frostbite should the hens have problems.

Ehhhh...not really.

 

[Mrs. K]

really, you don't need heated water either.

You want to think dry, not warm. Birds that are adequately fed, out of the wind and dry are warm birds.

They don't drink water 24/7. If they have liquid water once a day they will do fine. Mine often will eat snow or ice chips even when water is availabie.

Mrs K

 

[DobieLover]

The breeds I have - RIR, buff Orpington, barred rock, leghorn and EE. I think leghorn is the one least hardy among them given their big combs. Good points on the water- I start to use a retired rice cooker, good insulation and So far so good

Last year's low was -21F. No frostbite.

Different WLH that also saw the same winter conditions. No problems with her comb or wattles.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Most frostbite comes from bad ventilation in the coop and no birds at 7 months do not need heat