RE: Heating. You know I have to get in on this.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/421122/think-its-too-cold-for-your-chickens-think-again
My coop is unheated and uninsulated. We reached around -15 at the beginning of the year and the girls were just fine.
I think it's been said before, but adding heat is a big risk. First off, if the power goes out, your birds are not acclimated to the cold and will suffer more in that scenario than they would if you just let them get used to the cold.
Second off, the huge fire risk is repellant enough, at least for me. Especially when it comes to those rickety clamp lamps and huge 250 watt bulbs. Those are overkill, and no manner of justification will get past the fact. 250 watt bulbs should not be used with poultry for any reason. They can ignite bedding if they fall. They can ignite dust if it lands on them. They can even shatter and leave glass shards all over your coop and open wires in the dusty air. They are just asking for trouble.
The only bird I have lost to the cold was weak to start with. She had lost almost all of her feathers in her molt and was already shaky. That is the only time I would ever think to give a bird some help with the cold, and I definitely would not add heat to my entire flock for one individual. What I would recommend if you're worried about your birds is to observe them. If they start looking weak or shaky, THEN act. Most birds will huddle, and that's perfectly normal for them to do. If they are not walking straight or are having trouble standing, that's when you worry.
I should add as well that common sense is necessary in deciding when to intervene. Chicks and some exotic species do need heat. Adult chickens do not.
That super cold weather I mentioned before? My birds were running around outside in the paths I shoveled in the snow like nothing was wrong. A few stayed inside for the very coldest temps, but most of them were fine running around like usual in the negative temps. This includes my supposedly cold-intolerant breeds like my Silkie, my Sebright bantams, my Mediterranian breeds (Leghorn, Ancona, etc.). They were perfectly happy. If you heat your coop, your birds will huddle inside all day and be miserable because it's too cold for them to go outside and get fresh air. This has been my opinion for a few years now and I've never seen anything to prove otherwise.
P.S. I don't say this because I don't love my birds. I adore them. I say this because I know this is what is better for them. That's all there is to it.
And sorry if I sound grumpy, but my widdle Wibbles may or may not be sick so I'm not in a very humorous mood at the moment.
Well Said. I totally agree. But mine do not like the deep snow. I know I did alot of shoveling last year, so they would have a path, also stomped what I could down with my boots. Brats wouldn't even help, just ran behind me !!
