living in New england- should I heat my coop?

[mfpif16]

I have three bantam Favrolle hens living in a 3 by 3 coop and now that winter is coming up here, I'm not sure if I should put a heat lamp in my coop. It gets down to 10 degrees around here during the night. should I get a heat lamp??

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

i wouldn't. You want the chickens to adjust to the cold...which, 20° seems pretty cold to us, it isn't for a chicken. If you have an ice melter for your waterer that will bump the temp up enough. As long as they are dry they will be fine. Just watch them and see, if they huddle together all day long and appear distressed they may need improvement but I think chickens love the colder weather. Just saying, down jackets on and all.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

i wouldn't. You want the chickens to adjust to the cold...which, 20° seems pretty cold to us, it isn't for a chicken. If you have an ice melter for your waterer that will bump the temp up enough. As long as they are dry they will be fine. Just watch them and see, if they huddle together all day long and appear distressed they may need improvement but I think chickens love the colder weather. Just saying, down jackets on and all.

Agree. We got down to 16 degrees a few days ago and I had some girls in my broiler tractor (completely open except for half of it and it just had metal siding on it) and those girls did just fine. They will be fine as long as there is plenty of ventilation (not drafts) to dissipate the moisture that they put off.

 

[mfpif16]

ok, thanks! I'm going to go and get a water heater pretty soon, so I think I'm good. thanks for the advice!!