My winter heating solution

[spartacus_63]

I also live in Iowa and I use an IR heat lamp at night (the light doesn't bother the girls). I bought a fountain heater from Theisen's for the water (the fountain sits on top of the heater). They are meant for metal fountains. They are thermostatically controlled. They are a little pricey, but worth the $45. My heat lamps are on a timer, but I am looking into a thermostatically controlled light socket that can handle 250 watts.

 

[elmo]

I used a 60 watt ceramic bulb indoors for our amphibian tank. As I was cleaning the tank one day, I stupidly put the clamp lamp down on the table surface. Five minutes later, I smelled something burning. Yup. Those things get really hot. If you use a ceramic heat lamp, never rely only on the clamp attachment to keep it secured; always have a chain or something similarly secure to keep it where you put it.

You've got to consider the possibility that a chicken will fly up, into or on the lamp, so a cover over the bulb is needed, too. Chickens can burn themselves on the bulb, otherwise. It happened to someone we know here last winter. One of her hens burned her comb badly.

You also need to put a ceramic bulb in a fixture that has a special ceramic socket. A metal socket won't do. So if you bought your lamp fixture elsewhere (not at the pet store), make sure you've got the right kind of socket in the fixture...or else be prepared for trouble.

 

[rungirl]

I wouldn't worry about the temperature as much as the humidity. Ventilation is very important, but keep the vents high so it's not drafty down by the chickens. If you are worried about the water freezing, put a heated dog dish out in the run, not in the coop. They will have access to water all day long and it won't spill and get messy in the coop. I do hang the feeder inside to keep it out of the rain/snow. I also have a 60 watt bulb on a timer secured in the coop for added light and a little warmth. Make your roost out of 2x4s so they have a wide roost to keep their feet warm. I have big double pane south facing window in there for passive solar heat during the sunny days, which is a perk, because it was leftover from a remodeling job. That's about it. They are very happy.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you heat a small coop like that, I think you will find they spend a lot of time outside where it is more comfortable. Mine do not like wind and snow, but they do not seem to mind the cold. Here is what mine do when it is 8 degrees Fahrenheit. I do not heat my walk-in coop.

You can see what I do for keeping the water thawed. I use a black rubber bowl and leave it in the sunlight to use solar heating. If it freezes, which it will do overnight and when it is cloudy or really cold, I stomp the ice out of it and refill it. I usually don't have that many cloudy days in the winter.

Editted to add: I am a firm believer in keeping it as simple as possible.

 

[laturcotte1]

Wind and wet is what they need to be protected from. They have plenty of feathers for warmth and don't forget each other. If they get cold they will huddle but don't be surprised when you look out and their outside in the cold. Some shavings and hay for warmth too and a wide perch so they can tuck their feet under them. I have a heated water dish sitting on a flat rock inside up against the wall so they can't knock it over. Once in a while you'll have to take the shaving out of it but other than that I change it once a week. The only time they get a heat lamp is when someone is sick or a new born. This lamp is in a separate area away from roudy kids, and screwed down. I blow it off once a week for dust. I have a white light screwed to the wall near the ceiling for those really dreary days. Really, honestly they don't need heat.