Heating the coop

[goldstar]

Is it ok to hang a 250 watt heat lamp and use it if it gets in the 20 degree range at night ?

 

[joan1708]

Sometimes it's not a question of what can the chickens withstand but, what do the chickens prefer? Are they more comfortable with a little heat? There are obvious dangers of fire that have to be minimized. But, if a flock of chickens had the choice of a coop at 40 degree versus a coop at -20, which would they choose? I think they would like the warmer coop! If you have chickens as backyard pets this really does matter! Dogs can survive outside without heat if acclimated also. But I wouldn't have a dog if it had to stay outside. (Now staying in the barn as LGD is an entirely different thing).

I live in Texas so it's more important to keep them cool in the summer. But when we have cold snaps, right or wrong, I want to provide a little heat for them because I want them to be comfortable. Last year, I put a drop light on the outside of the coop at an open slat vent on the side of the coop. It added ventilation and heat. The chickens couldn't knock it over. I have "roof wings" to keep rain from getting in through the top vents so, I also throw a quilt over the top of the coop for more insulation and less potential draft ( the roof wings keep the high vents from being covered up).

Having said all that. Les Farms barn fire gives me pause. So, I don't know if I'll do that this year. Dead chickens is not what I'm after.

This is the coop, before the run was built.

 

[Rooster Rules]

I have been around the sun 63 times.

It is not my first "Rodeo!"

Heat???
Nobody "I know" heats a chicken coop.
Healthy "cold hearty" chickens die from heat not cold.
I live in Canada last year was subject to -40º (C or F take your pick Arctic Conditions) no light or heat in coop NO PROBLEMS. You have to feed heavier during cold snaps with extra corn I find.

Chickens have been raised on this continent for over a hundred years without heat. Hello People these are farm animals not house pets.
If you feel you must supply heat to your chickens I suggest keeping your chickens in the house and give them all the comforts house pets deserve. That way you can huddle with your birds when the hydro goes out.

Acclimatize
Chickens will die from cold if not given the chance to acclimatize. Hydro is more apt to go out in an ice storm or blizzard when subject to below 0º temperatures in my opinion.

How would you supply heat then to your un-acclimatized birds ???

Diary of last winter cold snap check out the link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/738994/chickens-arctic-conditions-prolonged-period

Watering
For along time I used heater tape around a bucket with chicken watering nipples. It worked excellent. However me being me I neglected to change the water as often as I should.

Last year I switched to white rubber contains the wife found somewhere. The freeze solid every night but the ice just pops out of them in the morning and I replenish them with fresh warm water. They have black ones at the feed store that are similar but large than mine.

The chickens congregate around them like people having their morning coffee. The only draw back is my yard is pepper with small ice bergs the size of the buckets.

April looks after that however..


My Coop is a salvaged 4x8 metal shed here are a few tips and a quick look at my set up.
My floor are planks with a layer of tin for rodent proofing. On top of the tin I have a piece of vinyl flooring cut one foot longer than the length and width of my coop (roughly). Six inches squares are cut out of the 4 corners of the vinyl flooring. This allows the friction fitted flooring to travel up the walls six inches around the perimeter of my 4x8 salvaged metal coop. Shovel out the heavy stuff into a wheel barrow. Pop out the vinyl flooring hose it off pop it back in.
Easy Peasy!

Bedding
I have used all types of litter for coops.

I have not tried sand (sand gets good reviews on this site).

Of all the things I tried to date wood pellets have been the best. (I tried wood pellets as a last resort when pine shavings were not available.) They are super absorbent and swell up and eventually turn to saw dust. The droppings just seem to vanish and turn to dust when it comes in contact with wood pellets .

Replace my litter and clean my coop every October after I harvest my garden.


Works for me in my deep litter method.

I do add to pellets from time to time.

I have anywhere from 10 to 15 birds housed in my 4x8 coop.

Through the winter months the pellets froze harder than concrete with -40º temperatures. The poop froze before it could be absorbed by the pellets and there was like a crusty layer of poop in certain areas where they collectively took aim (no smell, messy feet or flies @ -40º). Come April things started to look after themselves.

POOP BOARDS are the "BEST" addition yet. Handles well over ½ of the poop in my set up keeps ammonia smell in check 3½" below roost excellent for catching eggs laid through the night (roost are in cups for easier removal and cleaning). I recently friction fit a piece of vinyl flooring over my poop board.it makes clean up even easier; Pop out; Scrap; Hose; Pop in.

Nest boxes
In my nest boxes I fold a feed bag to fit (nest boxes are 1 ft³). When a bag gets soiled; fold a new one; pop out the soiled; pop in the new.

Easy peasy!.












I house an assortment of birds in this baby barn (¼ inch veneer plywood between birds and elements) no heat no light no problems.
Some Bycers do heat their coops for their own piece of mind I can not see any danger with electicity flighty birds tinder dry bedding 250 watt light bulb and plenty of feed and poultry dust. Could anything go wrong??? I would advise against using candles or open flames that may be hazardous..

Think I have seen your carbon copy post a time or 2 now. You guys on the east coast don't get the kinda cold we get, but must be a whole lot damper.
I have bantams, and some OEG bantams, they need to be kept a little warmer than larger birds or more cold hardy types. 20 f , but with -30f and a -40 windchill, it sure helps a lot. We don't have major power outages here, we are lucky.

 

[chickie farmer]

If you stop and think, a bird is smaller and doesn't need heat. yet they survive. If electricity goes out, the chickens wouldn't be used to the quick drop in weather. If they get cold, they do what birds do. fluff out their feathers for warmth. I also use pine bedding on the floor. I have a 5x8 coop with 7 hens and a rooster. plus a 12' run with the coop in the corner of it so they can bath in the sand. they do fine in the winter. I open the north vent and crack open the south window to keep the frost from forming on the windows. the frost would tell me the combs and waddles would freeze and turn black, which is painful to the hens. I also have poop boards and clean them every day. I have VERY little smell. I made a shovel out of some siding that I had and shaped it into a little shovel plus a thick plastic scraper to use with the shovel. keep the drafts off of them and they would be fine. I give them scratch to help put some fat on them which will help to keep them warm in the winter.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! Most people don't recommend heating the coop due to the danger of a fire, chickens can withstand cold much better than heat.

 

[All Henned Up]

Welcome to BYC! Most people don't recommend heating the coop , chickens can withstand cold much better than heat.

I agree
Welcome and enjoy!
Steve.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

It's "OK" to do most anything you want with your chickens
It's not necessary to heat a properly built coop

 

[Hokum Coco]

Duplicate

 

[Shades of Blue]

Welcome to BYC.....

Like it was mentioned you can put a heat lamp in but it is not really needed. It is nice to see that you are concerned about your birds and keeping their best interest at heart. If you do put a heat lamp in you really have to consider that one of the chickens might knock it down of which it could start a fire. I also live in Canada and it can get very cold. The chickens really are okay with cold weather. I don't use heat lamps and it gets well below freezing. I just have to make sure I collect eggs 2-3 times a day. I also check their water as it often freezes since I don't have heated water bowls/dishes. I also give my girls scratch that is made up of mixed grain and cracked corn. I feel it keeps them busy scratching in the straw and stirring up their blood keeping busy.

What I do to make sure everyone is comfortable is

deep bed the floor with what ever materials works best for you. I use straw but that is what I have available. I also feel it is a warmer material for them to be walking on.
make the coop draft free but not to the point that moisture collects
make sure there is good ventilation....at ceiling height.
other than that....your girls will do very well for the winter.