Keeping coop warm

[LynneP]

My hens adore the winter- see them below...

We use an electric dog bowl to keep the water from freezing inside the coop.

 

[laturcotte1]

Massachusetts here. As long as they can get out of the wind and wet their pretty happy. They need food, fresh water, and warm bedding. I agree that the hot weather is more stressful, I have an old crippled rooster that has to be brought into the cellar when it gets too hot.

 

[Kat's Silly Chickens]

It is good you asked before you have a tragedy, eveyrone here will give the best advice possible. I've learned a lot from them so far, and will continue to accept their advice. Good luck with your new adventure.

 

[70monte]

Years ago when I was a teenager in Arkansas, we had chickens and we never heated the coop or their water for that matter and never had problems with any of the chickens dying. Some of our Roosters did get frostbitten combs and wattles. We didn't know about ventilation back then and our coop wasn't well ventilated at all.

Last year was the first winter that I've had chickens as an adult and although I did use a heat lamp in the coop, it only raised the inside temp a couple of degrees and we had many nights in the single digits. No frostbite though. I do use a heated dog bowl for water in the coop.

This year I have a slightly bigger coop that is taller and I don't plan on heating it. I might try an experiment using the heat lamp just to see if it keeps this coop warmer than the other one but I don't think it will be necessary. The coop does have electricty and a light fixture with a 52 watt bulb in it and it will probably be on quite a bit when the days are shorter which will provide a little heat.

I think you will be fine with no heat unless you don't have a half way hardy breed.

Wayne

 

[Luckytaz]

In your climate you don't need to add heat. Feed them well, and they will be just fine. I don't heat my coop only the water,and we get -20 to -30 degrees here.
My birds handle it well.

 

[timgrahl]

So sorry to ask the question again but I'm getting nervous. This is my first winter with my chickens and the temperature is getting into the mid teens this week at night. I have five birds in a 5x5, ventilated coop. They should be fine?

Thanks!

 

[featherz]

My adult birds so far appear to not be bothered at all by the cold. I did put 5 10 week old chickens in with four adult pullets and they are looking rather uncomfortable and cramming up on the floor in a corner. They've never roosted before, so I'll try putting them up there this weekend when I have help. I know they are cold, but I am hanging in there since I'm on the side of 'they will be fine'. I hope! It's about 20 here at night and so far they have managed.

Coop#1 (layers) - I have eight birds in a 5x6 coop with a big run. A little small but so far they are ok - half the birds are skinny leghorns so that helps. Coop #2 - four 20 week old pullets + four 10 week old pullets + one 10 week old roo. Older ones are ok, younger ones still in a pile. Keep your fingers crossed!

 

[kateseidel]

I've been fretting over my hens - They have a nice, big coop, and a run, and they free range during the day. But it is in the low to mid-20's here at night, and I worry about them. They seem to be completely fine. I thought maybe they would want to stay inside today (the temp never got over 30), but they were out like a flash when I opened the door, and came back at dusk, as usual.

I must say, when they are all inside for a while, it is much cozier! I do have a heated water base for their metal waterer, since it is freezing solid without the heater. Even so, it had come unplugged one night, and the girls were fine until they got out to scavenge for water the next morning.

I had the same worries about my horses our first year here, until I realized that given the choice, they would shun their cozy run-ins to stay outside in the sleet. They looked like Yeti's most of the time, and were snug and warm in their winter coats. I am assuming the hens have a similar heat system (god knows that if I was freezing I would want to cuddle up under a mess of chickens - they really put out some heat!!)

Kate

 

[TheChickenProject]

Quote:
Timgrahl,
I live in New Jersey and have a 4 x 4 coop with four hens and one rooster. The coop has ventilation and I do not heat it. The past week has seen temps in the mid twenties at night and the birds are doing fine. As a matter of fact, I got my first eggs starting Friday! I do plan on using a water heater on a thermal cube, but that is for my convenience, not the birds.

There is a lot of good information here. Read a lot, listen to opinions, and do what makes you feel comfortable.

John

 

[chkinut]

i remember when i was a teen, in Hillsboro OH, we had a bunch of chickens....i remember their feet (on some of the birds) would literally be frozen solid!! poor things!!! but they were fine, and eventually thawed out with the spring.