i live north of manhattan and the temps are in low 30's do my girls need a heat lamp. My coop is not large and there are cozy
I strongly, strongly, strongly, suggest not using a heat lamp. I used a heat lamp last year and I nearly lost some chickens because the electricity went out. The chickens, who were used to heat, were suddenly thrust into cold conditions. They wouldn't go outside because they were used to warm and outside was cold. Several got frost bite because the heat lamp evaporated the water and poop and made it humid. Also you run the all-to-real risk of a coop fire. This year, I am NOT using a heat lamp, and my chickens are doing SO much better. They are actually going outside because they are acclimated to the cold. No frost bite, even on my rooster. And, it was -9! And, even during molting and no extra lighting, I am getting 8-9 eggs out of 16 hens. Which is really good. Bottom line is: no heat lamp unless the risk of not heating the chickens is as great as heating the chickens! Which, in my opinion, would be have to be pretty darn cold. Think -30 or -40.
