Chickens were raised in North America for over 200 years before electricity. They do not need additional heat. The chicken owner may think they do, but they don't. We all care about our chickens, but sometimes we need to remember that they will be fine. You may get frostbite on those with large single combs, but that happens. (that's one of the reasons I raise American Dominiques, they have a rose comb) Last month the temp got down to 0 F at our place. The thermometer in the coop read 0 F. I went out to check on the chickens, and they were all bunched together on the roosts. I placed my hand into the center of the chicken pile, and it was quite warm.
If you heat the coop, then they get accustomed to it. If the electricity or other power source is not there, then they can have a hard time. Let them be chickens. Even if you treat them as pets, they are still chickens.Let them get used to the changes in temperatures, and they will grow the feathers they need to stay warm. I still have about 5 that insist on roosting in the coop rafters. I go out at night and they are there, all puffed up, staying warm, using the feathers God gave them. Keep the drafts off of them, keep the water thawed, and LOTS of free choice (just my preference) high quality food. Mine always have 18% protein or higher available, along with scratch grains and any leftovers or scraps that we don't give to the dogs. We are at about 5700 feet, and we haven't gotten to the cold part of winter yet.... Your egg production will drop, but that's OK, that's what is supposed to happen. We also don't give our chickens supplemental lighting either. They are still laying, though the numbers have dropped off slightly.
If you heat the coop, then they get accustomed to it. If the electricity or other power source is not there, then they can have a hard time. Let them be chickens. Even if you treat them as pets, they are still chickens.Let them get used to the changes in temperatures, and they will grow the feathers they need to stay warm. I still have about 5 that insist on roosting in the coop rafters. I go out at night and they are there, all puffed up, staying warm, using the feathers God gave them. Keep the drafts off of them, keep the water thawed, and LOTS of free choice (just my preference) high quality food. Mine always have 18% protein or higher available, along with scratch grains and any leftovers or scraps that we don't give to the dogs. We are at about 5700 feet, and we haven't gotten to the cold part of winter yet.... Your egg production will drop, but that's OK, that's what is supposed to happen. We also don't give our chickens supplemental lighting either. They are still laying, though the numbers have dropped off slightly.
