Keeping my chickens warm and laying

[IvanK]

Hi! It's -32 here today...I'm in the great plains of central Canada. My barn has some space heaters/radiators which are barely keeping up and the temp inside is just above zero (2-4 degrees). Despite this, my ISA Browns are still fine even just above zero. I even let my flock out of the barn at -10 but leave a small doggy door open so they can return to the coop anytime. A lot of chicken types are pretty cold hardy. I don't know what you keep or how low the temp gets in Virginia but you may be fine with your current setup.
If you really want/need light and heat, solar as mentioned could be a solid option but remember that dark cloudy winters mean not a lot of charge. Alternatively, you may want to inquire with an electrician if it would be possible to place some posts/masts in order to run a cable from your house's service to the coop. The possibilities may surprise you. I know up here my electrician works wonders with all the space that I have in between my buildings.
Perhaps you could also get someone with a loader etc. to move the coop closer to the house if the current distance is not practical.
Anyway, best of luck!

 

[devorahyahn]

This is my third year with chickens. I live in SW Wisconsin, and it can get extremely cold here. I provide warmth for my birds when the temps drop below 0. And I really make sure they have warmth when the wind chill warnings are at -25. All my coops are insulated with excellent ventilation and plenty of dry straw, with a constant water supply. Yes they would be fine if I did not give them warmth, but, it is what I choose to do. Yes, I have read hardy chickens do just fine in cold weather, and they adapt very well to the weather changes. But, I choose to keep them warm in extreme cold weather, and I choose to keep them cool with shade and fans in the summer. It is what I choose!! Wisconsin can be brutal cold, and I feel better at night when I crawl into my warm bed knowing my birds are warm too. I think if you want to choose to keep them safe and warm from brutal cold weather..... go for it!!

 

[BirdGirl2004]

This is my third year with chickens. I live in SW Wisconsin, and it can get extremely cold here. I provide warmth for my birds when the temps drop below 0. And I really make sure they have warmth when the wind chill warnings are at -25. All my coops are insulated with excellent ventilation and plenty of dry straw, with a constant water supply. Yes they would be fine if I did not give them warmth, but, it is what I choose to do. Yes, I have read hardy chickens do just fine in cold weather, and they adapt very well to the weather changes. But, I choose to keep them warm in extreme cold weather, and I choose to keep them cool with shade and fans in the summer. It is what I choose!! Wisconsin can be brutal cold, and I feel better at night when I crawl into my warm bed knowing my birds are warm too. I think if you want to choose to keep them safe and warm from brutal cold weather..... go for it!!

Same here... If I feel at all my chickens are in danger of anything, especially cold, I cannot fall asleep! I like to know they are warm!!

 

[CruellasCoup]

Weather dropping to 20s during day and teen to single digits at night. Should I give my girls some heat? Was thinking about those heat screens. Any suggestions?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Weather dropping to 20s during day and teen to single digits at night. Should I give my girls some heat? Was thinking about those heat screens. Any suggestions?

That's a personal decision. I add no extra heat despite freezing temperatures and my birds do fine, others choose to add some heat source.

 

[path.otto]

Weather dropping to 20s during day and teen to single digits at night. Should I give my girls some heat? Was thinking about those heat screens. Any suggestions?

Depends on if you have cold hardy breeds. Mine have just experienced negative low double digits this week and they are fine. They are out in the run in the sun in single digits. I'm trying not to add heat. The coop is insulated and we have electricity for water heaters.

If they are cold hardy breeds at those temps you will be fine.

 

[Arctic Henn]

Right now in northern Canada where I am living, temp going down to -30 tonight plus winds- windchill - 40. Coop super insulated,well ventilated, run has coriplast (like plastic cardboard) sheeting, blocking any wind. Have solar power but use it only for auto coop door & water heaters. Door on a timer. Use deep litter. Girls doing fine.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Right now in northern Canada where I am living, temp going down to -30 tonight plus winds- windchill - 40. Coop super insulated,well ventilated, run has coriplast (like plastic cardboard) sheeting, blocking any wind. Have solar power but use it only for auto coop door & water heaters. Door on a timer. Use deep litter. Girls doing fine.

Chickens really are more hardy than people give them credit for, aren't they?

Welcome to BYC.

 

[bobbi-j]

Weather dropping to 20s during day and teen to single digits at night. Should I give my girls some heat? Was thinking about those heat screens. Any suggestions?

They really don't need it...

 

[TarantuLady]

Just my story for whatever it’s worth. This is my second year with a flock in SE Michigan. We just hit -11*F this morning, & have a good week to go of these sub-zero temps. The choices we made:
Lights...we have them on because we sell eggs & want to keep our customer base in eggs through the winter. Even so, we get around 2 doz/day out of a 60 hen flock. Due to this recent cold snap, we’ve lost almost half that & get about 15/day. We’ve had to impose a limit on the number of eggs people can buy at a time.‍ With lights delaying the fall molt, our birds molt whenever their bodies tell them to, rather than always during fall, so we have hens in molt throughout the year. Right now, I have several wearing homemade chicken sweatshirts.‍It works.
Heat: Nope. I live it the middle of nowhere & we have spotty electric during storms. If my artificially heated hens (& roos) lose heat they’re used to...they could freeze to death. Not going to risk it. I’ve only got one LARGE-combed roo with issues this year, a Cream Legbar. Poor guy’s comb froze solid! He’s in a heated hospital pen now, after following his treatment. All others, even Leghorns are ok, no issues. Amazing. Only issue...we MUST collect eggs every hour, or the eggs freeze & crack.

This is the coldest winter I can remember around here in a loooong time, but aside from my one roo, they’re doing ok.