How do you heat your coops

[bruceha2000]

As far as insulating the coops go I had a great idea today, if you only have a couple small birds to keep warm just get a larger heavy duty styrofoam cooler from a restaurant supply and cut a doorway in it, those should fit in even the smaller coops. For people with larger groups of birds you can use RV foam insulation sheets, most building material places keep similar stuff, just make sure it's not toxic.

Yeah, I would worry about the toxic bit. My chicks were pecking the grey backing off the duct tape that held newspaper on the sides of the bathtub that was their brooder. And now that they are older and wandering around, they find small chunks of foam here and there and peck that. Hopefully they aren't ingesting.

 

[bruceha2000]

I personally have a small radiant electric heater in my coop with a thermostat that keeps the temp just above freezing so that the chickens have water to drink. I am a firefighter and i hate heaters, but you can touch this heater while it is on and it wont burn you. Trust me its not to heat the coop just keep the water from freezing after that there is no further heating done.

I'm with Justine (Aoxa) on this one. Heating an area to keep the water from freezing is as inefficient as using a sprinkler to water the veg garden rather than watering each plant. More water goes where there are no plants (well not the ones YOU want to grow) than to the veg.

Bruce

 

[bruceha2000]

insulated and a red heat lamp since the hens need 16 hours of light for egg laying - we have it on a timer

Does a red lamp "count" as light for keeping the hens laying? I would have assumed it would have to be white light, and preferably a "daylight" color temp. I also read someone's post (or coop design??) that said they used a fluorescent lamp and -no good- they switched to an LED. Something about the fluorescent that didn't say "it is daytime" to the hens.

Bruce

 

[louie2037]

I'm going with the "no-heat" faction. I live in western, NY; it can get well below zero, and the snowfall is abundant. The way I figure it is that heating chicken coops is a fairly new idea. My family has lived and farmed here abouts since 1806, and I know that none of my fore fathers provided heat for any of their livestock or poultry. For that matter, the "barn cats" were never allowed in the house, nor did they get heat; they usually snuggled in with the livestock, or made a "nest" in the hay. In fact, look around at new barn construction; every one I see are open sided, with heavy duty plastic on the bottom half! Even I felt kinda bad for the cows having to live like that, but it really doesn't hurt them. I've read that chickens were first domesticated 8,000 years ago, so they managed to survive about 7,950 (+) years out in the elements. Finally, after all that, I guess I'd give my "girls" a little heat if I could afford it

!

 

[JackE]

insulated and a red heat lamp since the hens need 16 hours of light for egg laying - we have it on a timer

They need 16hrs a day for egg laying? I guess my chickens don't know about that. I get eggs all through the winter, no extra light needed.
Jack

 

[newbiemom]

Hi, I'm in Springfield MB. This is my first spring with chicks, who are now laying.Do you ever let your chickens outside in our MB. winters? I have a coop i'm insulating for the winter I was kind of worried about my girls because it's been really cold the past couple days & they're calling for snow tomorrow. Any info would help. Thanks!

 

[karlamaria]

Hi, I'm in Springfield MB. This is my first spring with chicks, who are now laying.Do you ever let your chickens outside in our MB. winters? I have a coop i'm insulating for the winter I was kind of worried about my girls because it's been really cold the past couple days & they're calling for snow tomorrow. Any info would help. Thanks!

Springfield MB ? Not sure where this is but here in Montana it's cold and we get down to 30 below. My girls did fine in an insulated coop no heat but insulated . I have a covered pen, no snow ever gets in there and it's totally encased with ( tarps last year) thick clear plastic this year. My girls love out doors but hate the snow lol. So a nice dry sandy pen is awesome . I also have 2x4 roosts 4 inch flat side down and I carpet it so they have warmer feet. ( yeah I spoil them) my coop has electricity so I use a Tin can heater these work awesome ! My water stays unfrozen through out the winter months

 

[3Ducks]

A camper coop is the greatest thing...i was going to do that too

 

[karlamaria]

A camper coop is the greatest thing...i was going to do that too  e

 

there was a camper on Craig's list today for 200 bucks!

 

[Minniechickmama]

I'm going with the "no-heat" faction. I live in western, NY; it can get well below zero, and the snowfall is abundant. The way I figure it is that heating chicken coops is a fairly new idea. My family has lived and farmed here abouts since 1806, and I know that none of my fore fathers provided heat for any of their livestock or poultry. For that matter, the "barn cats" were never allowed in the house, nor did they get heat; they usually snuggled in with the livestock, or made a "nest" in the hay. In fact, look around at new barn construction; every one I see are open sided, with heavy duty plastic on the bottom half! Even I felt kinda bad for the cows having to live like that, but it really doesn't hurt them. I've read that chickens were first domesticated 8,000 years ago, so they managed to survive about 7,950 (+) years out in the elements. Finally, after all that, I guess I'd give my "girls" a little heat if I could afford it

!

Where are you? I grew up in Erie County. My family mostly still lives around WNY.