Heating the coop in severe cold weather climates?

[LynneP]

How much daylight are you getting now? You could probably adjust your light as you go into prolonged darkness, your electric bill could climb significantly if you have to have the light on for 14 hours. We use a timer on ours and change the timer as the days shorten. Just now it is on from 5 am - 8 am, we're at 45 deg N.

 

[patandchickens]

Eight hours is (very approximately) what you need to keep them *eating* enough to survive; for egglaying it takes more like 14 hrs.

As far as insulation, you might be able to do some of that this year. First, if you happen to be able to scrounge any materials this year, you could insulate just the ceiling, or the northward wall, or whatever part can most conveniently be opened up to insulate. And secondly, even without Official Insulation Materials, you can get a lot of mileage by stacking Hefty bags full o' dry leaves, or strawbales, or even just shovelling a buncha snow, up against the outside walls. (Be aware of stuctural strenght issues, especially if you are considering putting anything on the coop roof). They will make a real difference too, and even though it'll only last you one winter it's a good compromise til you can put actual insulation in the walls/ceiling.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[LynneP]

Good idea, Pat, and even wrapping the coop in a weather-resistant material like Typar would could the wind significantly...

 

[PandoraTaylor]

I live in alaska adn yes our temps have been very low very early this year.

I have a small coop for my 37 chickens, very insulated and it is still cold in there without a heat lamp.
I use a 250 watt red heat lamp at night and a white one during my daylight (14-16 hour) I have a waterbowl warmer under a 3 gal waterer, and it works well.

currently it is -45 and the coop is currently about +45!

can't say for sure how much heat you will need for yours as I adjust mine according to the temp I want to maintain.
I have gone through more feed since the cold snap started, more than doubled their intake, I have still gotten eggs daily, 18-24! so I think I am doing what they need.

 

[TarzantheChickenMan]

insulation ans winds breaks up wind of the coop you would be amazed what that will do to keep even a few birds warm. Heating a coop is an option but sometime cost prohibitive. I have about a dozen layers in a coop i stack all the bags of leaves on the north and west side of the coop i get to eaves if i go to town and haul leaves in from work. The leaves add lots of insulation and act as a wind break. I put a eclectic heater under the water but thats about it. This coop is insulated but the new im not finished with will be, it will also be on the south side of the bard so the goats and pig get the cold side lol. By that way im in northern MN so cold is nothing new here.

 

[hilandfrog]

So it's really worm in MT, not -60 thats for sure.

At 8AM this morning the coop was at 22F while the outside was at 10f.

There was some frozen condensation on the glass.

I have a red 250 for cold days but I'm waiting for the temps to get in the single digits prior to heating inside...??

The lights come on at 1530 and go off at 2200, I have both the white light 60w and the 250 heat on the same timer for now.

these are the things people make jackets out of do they really need heat for teens and above? or is it just a pampering thing?

Repo

 

[HensAK]

More great ideas! I wish I had thought of stacking up bags of leaves. Too late now, everything is frozen. But bales of straw might still be an option. I don't really need straw for anything other than insulation, though, so is there a good use for it in the spring/summer? I guess if I buy $100 worth of straw, it would still be a lot cheaper than plugging in a heater.

We're at about 61 degrees N. The sun isn't coming up over the mountains until at least 10:00 am right now, setting at 4:00 PM and fading fast. I could turn the light on for a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening. Or get a timer and set it to turn on really early or stay on really late.

The temps got up into the twenties today. It feels like spring. I need to take advantage of the heat wave and get things ready for the next cold snap.

Hilandfrog, to answer your question, I'm no pro, but after watching how well my hens have done during this cold spell, I think heating for anything in the teens or above is just pampering. Of course, it depends on your breed of chicken, too. Mine are all cold weather hardy breeds. I want to make sure they are safe and comfortable and living within the temperature range they're best suited for, and if I can work it so they keep on laying through the winter, even better.

Here's one last question about something that has been bothering me - and please don't laugh! If I set the timer for the light to turn off, can the chickens then find their way to the roost when it suddenly goes pitch black?? I picture them out there flapping and stumbling around or just sitting down on the floor in defeat.

 

[hilandfrog]

Thanks for your response.
I'm looking at a thermo-socket but on at 32 off at 45 seems really high to me.
If I could get one that went on at 0F on off at 20F things would be better in my little head.


Knowing nothing I'll answer....

My 7 standards have a hard time in the dark, they flap and stumble even fall off the ramp from time to time...

Not sure how to "tuck them in" prior to light out.

They are all on their roots by morning so they get it done.


Repo

 

[emvickrey]

I saw on a thread where somebody made heaters out of the cookie tins. Those where to keep the water from freezing but somebody suggeted using the popcorn tins for heat. Makes sense. I saw at Rural King yesterday where they have heated water bottles and bowls. The bowls where only $15.00. Same size you would use for a large dog. Personally I use a 5 gallon bucket cut down to half as tall. I would have to use a metal pan to put on the cookie tim to keep the water from freezing. How they do it is they attach a light fixture to the inside of the cookie or popcorn tin and secure it with a clamp and bolt. Poke a hole for the cord to go through. Use a low amp bulb and put the top on the tin. It holds enough heat to keep the water from freezing. I would use a larger bulb for the popcorn tin for a heater. I don't think they owuld get hot enough to start a fire if hay or straw is used in the coop. They could surround the heater for warmth.

It doesn't get very cold here to have to worry about it. Besides the ice storm we got our temps are varied. It may get down to 10 degrees one night and snow then the next day it melts and it's jacket weather. The ice storm was scarey this year. The coop was covered in ice and there was tree limbs frozen to that. We had to litteraly chip our way in. Everybody was fine, hungry but unharmed. Trees where falling everywhere. There was a tree leaned over the coop but not broken. The coop suffered no damage.

OK, i found the thread. I hope this link will help u find it. I had it saved for future use.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=117287&p=1

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Wasilla? Is that you Sarah? Just Kidding! I'm in Colorado, gets pretty cold here at night, too! We added lots of insulation when we initially built the coop, and it always stays at least 20 degrees warmer inside than the outside temps. And it is well protected against drafts - which can be more critical than the temps. That being said, I do have a 100w RED heat bulb out there that I have on a timer, but I only use it if outside temps are dropping to zero. They seem to roost fine with the red bulb vs a white one. But I have been thinking about trying out one of those ceramic coil heat bulbs this year. You'll know if they're not warm enough if they start piling. And make sure the roosts are wide enough for them to completely tuck their feet under themselves when they roost.