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Still really like the flat radiant aussie. For me it takes off about 25 degrees. My coop is partially insulated. You might do better with it if you're fully insulated. One lady in west Virginia tried it on non insulated slightly smaller coop had 11 degree difference. Its all depending how your set up I guess.

Thanks for asking about Roger -- the Big Tootsie-- He's good. No frost bite on him whatsoever this winter. He's got two hens with a little on their combs though. They re no doubt sick of that coop right now though. Counting down to Thursday noon!
 
Aussiegal- this last fall while driving around up in Now then, we were "dreaming" a bit of moving up that way on some farm acreage. We can have a few chickens in Ramsey, but no other "farm" animals. We started last year with 4 Golden Wyandotts, and 4 Speckled Sussex. 2 turned out to be roosters (not allowed) & got returned for Rhode Island Reds. Then a mink took out 1 Sussex, 2 Wyandotts, and a Red. So now we have a mixed coop of Brahmas, Ameracauna, Australorp, Red, Wyandott, and Sussex.
 
I too am interested in the flat heaters. I am thinking for the pen that is molting so they can cozy up to it or hang is over their roost. In my barn it is usually 10-20 degrees warmer than outside. I have Black Australorps, Cochins, Cream Legbars and sexlink's. The BA's and the CL's have been having the most problem with frostbite the last two years. I am thinking of replacing the BA's with Buckeye's. Or something that doesn't have the large combs and waddles. I did loose a Rooster to frostbite.
I plan on getting some bag balm tomorrow for the one's with frostbite. I too don't think the Vaseline works very well.
 
My birds all made it through the bitter cold with a little help from the infrared heater. I wish i had used the heater before my one roo got slight frostbite the points of his comb.

The heater i have been using FOSTORIA Electric Infrared Heater, 3072/1536 BtuH


http://www.grainger.com/product/FOSTORIA-Electric-Infrared-Heater-2V342?functionCode=P2IDP2PCP


I found it after researching heater options. It is not cheap (281.50) but will last forever. The one I am using i know is 25 years old at least and has been used a lot, and has taken abuse. Just an FYI in case the someone needs something more than the flat panels everyone is talking about. I would have lost my birds without it.


The temp inside my coop is equal to the outside temp same with the humidity. Right now it is -9 and 92% humidity. My birds refuse to roost for some reason, instead they hunker down into straw that is 6 inches deep. I was hoping to make use of deep litter but it is not working. Instead I go in with a pitch fork and scoop up the frozen poo and straw and replace with more straw.

I know when my aunt had chickens it was with deep litter in an insulated building with enough birds to maintain the heat. I will not be using my hoop coop next winter.
 
Does anyone know where I can get a small (3 or 4 foot long rectangle) bale of straw around the twin cities? I got some tiny ones at the local florist around halloween and have now run out. The way my coop is set up the straw is way easier to clean than shavings, but as a city slicker I have no idea where to obtain the stuff this time of year.
 
I got a packed bale from the tractor supply store in Prior Lake. It's wrapped in plastic and I just cut open an end and I pull some out as I need it. If I were to open it from the bag it would be much bigger.
 

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