inheriting a flock and coop - MANY questions

[BigBlueHen53]

How cold does it get? We don't supply heat to our birds. I figure if the sparrows, bluebirds and cardinals can survive in the wild, my chickrns can, in an enclosed coop as long as they stay dry.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If electricity is available, which it must be if there is a heat lamp, invest in heated buckets or bowls to keep their water from freezing and they'll be fine.

 

[chicagochicknlady]

How cold does it get? We don't supply heat to our birds. I figure if the sparrows, bluebirds and cardinals can survive in the wild, my chickrns can, in an enclosed coop as long as they stay dry.

I don't heat my current coop, with similar winter temperatures (we had a cold snap recently with actual temps ~2°F, lower wind chills, and my birds were basically fine). Planning to get the new coop some heated waterers. My only concern with removing the lamps is that they've been in a heated coop so far this winter and so haven't acclimated, and i'm not sure how long that transition will take.

 

[alinas2010]

What are the current temps? During the day do they leave the heated coop and hangout where it is not heated all day? I always think if mine can run around all day outside in (for instance) 25 degree weather, then when that is the night time low on a different night they are probably fine and don’t need heat as long as they’re hydrated and ate well that day. Hope that makes sense. You could get a heater with different settings and slowly decrease the heat on it over a time span. The flat panel radiant heaters only heat what is near them, you could get a couple of those and if they decide they’re cold, they could make the decision to cuddle near them.

 

[homesteading101]

I don't heat my current coop, with similar winter temperatures (we had a cold snap recently with actual temps ~2°F, lower wind chills, and my birds were basically fine). Planning to get the new coop some heated waterers. My only concern with removing the lamps is that they've been in a heated coop so far this winter and so haven't acclimated, and i'm not sure how long that transition will take.

Just get a $15 200 watt aquarium heater and put it in a 5 gal bucket with nipple waterers. This is safer than bulbs or anything else. My chickens are fine in -25f unheated coop with window open. You'll probably need an extension cord, I don't use super thick outdoor rated either.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I don't heat my current coop, with similar winter temperatures (we had a cold snap recently with actual temps ~2°F, lower wind chills, and my birds were basically fine). Planning to get the new coop some heated waterers. My only concern with removing the lamps is that they've been in a heated coop so far this winter and so haven't acclimated, and i'm not sure how long that transition will take.

That is a consideration, since they are used to heat, but warmer temps should be coming. I would think that next winter, just don't use the heat lamps at all and let them acclimate naturally as the seasons change.