Missing feathers in winter

[Vincentville farm]

I shared about my BR ladies missing feathers on their backs and butts. They were hatched March 2023, seventeen months. They were picking one another's feathers. This has stopped by using pinless peepers. But their feathers have not come back in. Some are regaining them but others are not. They are cold hardy birds, but with missing feathers, is this still true? I'm considering heating their coop. I put in some insulation in the roof and the coop stays about 10 degrees warmer than outside. I am in Southern Oregon, so we don't get in the negative degrees. This week, we are in the 20s at night.
I'm considering a circulating oil heater. They have worked great in my house before we got ductless heating. Anyone have experience with these in a chicken coop? I would set the temperature for 45 degrees, so as not to send them into shock when they go outside. Comments, suggestions, advice all welcome. Just no negativity PLEASE.

 

[FrostRanger]

I shared about my BR ladies missing feathers on their backs and butts. They were hatched March 2023, seventeen months. They were picking one another's feathers. This has stopped by using pinless peepers. But their feathers have not come back in. Some are regaining them but others are not. They are cold hardy birds, but with missing feathers, is this still true? I'm considering heating their coop. I put in some insulation in the roof and the coop stays about 10 degrees warmer than outside. I am in Southern Oregon, so we don't get in the negative degrees. This week, we are in the 20s at night.
I'm considering a circulating oil heater. They have worked great in my house before we got ductless heating. Anyone have experience with these in a chicken coop? I would set the temperature for 45 degrees, so as not to send them into shock when they go outside. Comments, suggestions, advice all welcome. Just no negativity PLEASE.

I think they'll be fine, I wouldn't run heat in there but some pictures of your birds would be helpful

 

[Mrs. K]

No heat - they will be fine. Not that cold, and birds really can tolerate cooler temperatures. The big problem with worrying about warmth, is you tend to close the coop up to keep the warmth in... what you close up is the moisture - Moisture makes for damp cold chickens.

It seems so counter intuitive, but ventilation is incredibly important to keep the coop dry, and a dry coop = dry chickens = healthy and happy chickens.

Mrs K

 

[Vincentville farm]

I think they'll be fine, I wouldn't run heat in there but some pictures of your birds would be helpful

Sorry it took so long to get these posted. I kept forgetting to bring my phone with me in the morning.