How to warm the coop?

[gabriellebw]

We have three hens. This will be their first winter and I am worried that they will get cold! What temp is too cold for a chicken? I am looking for ideas to keep them warm especially at night in the coop. I know that heat lamps are an option but I worry about the fire risk. Any ideas are very welcome!

 

[Fowl97]

where are you located and i just used weather stripping for the doors and i put weather striped plexiglass over the window

 

[PandoraTaylor]

It depends on the

Breed of Chicken

Age of Chickens

Where you are located?
some places need no heat, others need insulation, and where I am needs both.

Size of Coop?

 

[cposz]

We have 4 big hens in a small, insulated henhouse, which opens to a run below. We put some plastic around the run underneath the henhouse (that small run opens to a larger run) and installed a small mason jar light fixture in the run under the henhouse. We will only turn the light on when it gets really cold. The warm air generated by the bulb should rise to the upper level, the henhouse, and provide a bit of heat. We also have a heater under our galvanized water container, to keep the water from freezing, and we assume that could have some residual heat affect in an enclosed space, too. The coop and run are in an area protected on the north side by a hill, so they will be sheltered from the north winds. Also, our hens are winter hardy (red sexlinks and Buff Orpingtons), and that helps, too.

 

[gabriellebw]

We have 2 Rhode Island Reds and 1 Bard Rock. The coop is pretty small but is attached to a large run. We live in eugene oregon. It doesn't usually dip below freezing here but the weather lately has been unusually cold and I worry that if I can still feel it through two sweaters and a coat that the girls can feel it through their feathers...

 

[chickenchaser99]

try adding extra beding

 

[chickenlittles]

I'm in Northern Ontario,just insulated a 100 yr old log sauna,couple of double pane windows, weatherstripping and a heater.As of tonite we've gotten 6" of snow,after that comes the cold.Last winter was brutal with temps down to -42 ,hopefully it will be warmer this winter.First winter with the chickens.

ken

 

[rdranch]

Quote:
As long as the coop is draft free and there is plenty of bedding you will be fine. Just make sure they always have access to fresh water and plenty of food. This is a fun time to get creative with warm treats in the morning. Have fun!

 

[cposz]

Our girls love warm oatmeal with apples and raisins and whatever's leftover from the refrigerator. I have also heard that the corn in chicken scratch grains helps to keep them warm.

 

[2468Chickensrgr8]

We live in Southern Ontario ...With three hens you would want a small coop ..less space to keep warm ....I would place a thermometer in the coop at roost level...so you can see the actual temperatures there roosting at....I use the deep litter method with my girls ...I just scrape the top layer of poop off and add more shavings ...also have a flat surface for the hens to roost on like a 2 by 4 so they can tuck there feet under themselves...some of my girls tuck there head under their wing to sleep ...when I catch them sleeping ...
I will only turn the heat light on come January or Feb when were getting crazy low temperatures in the wee morning hours and that is usually from 4 to 7 am .If you have the heat lamp on for a long period of time and the power goes off for a period of time the girls will have a harder time adjusting to the freezing temperatures ...there are some more posts on here dealing withg the cold ....good luck !!!! Stay warm !!! in beautiful Oregon !...