need hand-holding re: cold temps

[prairiepearls]

@austradork (LOVE the name!): What kind of flat-panel coop heater, and where did you get it, if I may ask.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I've never shorted my birds on care because it's easier or less expensive. If you had any clue how much time I have invested in my birds, not to mention money you'd know that statement is way off base for me and 99.9% of the other people who don't believe in heating our coops. I've had chickens many decades and I've never provided heat for them not because it's more convenient but because it's not necessary....even in a cold climate. I've lost hens to the heat and humidity but not to the cold.

 

[austradork]

Quote:
Hey! I bought the flat panel coop heater from Shop The Coop.com. See here . As many here will be quick to point out, the "coop heater" is actually just a standard flat panel heater for a house. Shop The Coop.com just raises the prices, markets them as coop heaters, and sells them to suckers like me who don't know any better! I paid $140 for mine (plus shipping), but I see that you can buy them here for $110 (plus shipping I presume). Be sure to check out the video on the Shop The Coop though! You gotta scroll down to see it.

By the way, I was totally like you and was wringing my hands at night worrying about my poor girls out in the cold. The heater makes ME feel better, makes the chickens feel better, and I consider it money well spent (even though I got totally ripped off!)

 

[austradork]

Quote:
I've never shorted my birds on care because it's easier or less expensive. If you had any clue how much time I have invested in my birds, not to mention money you'd know that statement is way off base for me and 99.9% of the other people who don't believe in heating our coops. I've had chickens many decades and I've never provided heat for them not because it's more convenient but because it's not necessary....even in a cold climate. I've lost hens to the heat and humidity but not to the cold.

Like I said, I'm not saying heat is *necessary*. I'm saying chickens PREFER not to be cold. I want my chickens not only to "survive", but to be comfortable. I have been accused of "coddling" my girls, but that's okay with me. In the end, I guess it's kind of like parenting. What's right for one family, isn't right for another family.

 

[gryeyes]

I am in the middle, neither majority nor minority... Wait... Maybe that makes me....

Never mind that.

I have youngsters - 14 of them - in a small coop. There's a 75 watt infrared heat lamp up in one corner, high, for these 5 week old chicks. I like the peek of red light glowing through the coop window...

None of the adult or older adolescent birds get heat. Just these kids.

I also bought a flat panel heater but .... The heat lamp was easier to hang (securely) for me.

14 nearly feathered out chicks can keep themselves warm enough - the glow of the lamp is for me. I'll take it down after this cold snap.

 

[welsummer4]

Quote:
Austrodork,
I don't want this to turn in to one of those forum tiffs that pop up every now and then (I'm looking at you, "Proof coop insulation does nothing" thread

), but I'd like you to know that I take issue with your insinuation that I don't care about my chickens because I don't heat their coop. I've spent hours over the last few weeks winterizing my coop. I built weather stripped vent covers, added an insulated drop-ceiling, lowered the roost, built a wall to block drafts from the pop-door, covered the run in plastic to block the wind, and built a special platform to support the fountain heater and keep it out of the bedding. All of this was a lot more work than just throwing a heater in the coop. In fact, to say that it's more convenient to not heat the coop is ridiculous. I'd say it's definitely more convenient and much easier to artificially heat than it is to actually do the work of winterizing.

I can't speak for everyone who chooses not to heat, but I know that, for me, this decision wasn't made lightly. I ultimately choose not to heat because a) my research showed that heaters are potentially dangerous (fire hazards), b) heating can keep chickens from acclimating to the cold (which can be deadly if the heat unexpectedly goes out), and c) artificial heat can cause moisture/humidity problems in the coop. I weighed these costs and decided that it would be better for my chickens to not use a heater--a decision I made because my chickens are more than a source of eggs to me, they're my pets and I care about them a great deal.

That said, I respect your decision to heat your coop because it is the right decision for you. I don't think you care any less for your chickens because you made a different choice than me. I'm sure your chickens are happy, healthy and safe, and I'm glad they have you to care for them.
Thanks,

A.R.

 

[JosieChick]

Prairie Pearls,
That is cool, wish I could make it on Friday but alas I must go to work! I will look for that thread and maybe I can catch you guys next time, my fiancee is tired of hearing about chickens!

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

It's 3 degrees outside and 29 in my coop!

 

[austradork]

Quote:
Austrodork,
I don't want this to turn in to one of those forum tiffs that pop up every now and then (I'm looking at you, "Proof coop insulation does nothing" thread

), but I'd like you to know that I take issue with your insinuation that I don't care about my chickens because I don't heat their coop. I've spent hours over the last few weeks winterizing my coop. I built weather stripped vent covers, added an insulated drop-ceiling, lowered the roost, built a wall to block drafts from the pop-door, covered the run in plastic to block the wind, and built a special platform to support the fountain heater and keep it out of the bedding. All of this was a lot more work than just throwing a heater in the coop. In fact, to say that it's more convenient to not heat the coop is ridiculous. I'd say it's definitely more convenient and much easier to artificially heat than it is to actually do the work of winterizing.

I can't speak for everyone who chooses not to heat, but I know that, for me, this decision wasn't made lightly. I ultimately choose not to heat because a) my research showed that heaters are potentially dangerous (fire hazards), b) heating can keep chickens from acclimating to the cold (which can be deadly if the heat unexpectedly goes out), and c) artificial heat can cause moisture/humidity problems in the coop. I weighed these costs and decided that it would be better for my chickens to not use a heater--a decision I made because my chickens are more than a source of eggs to me, they're my pets and I care about them a great deal.

That said, I respect your decision to heat your coop because it is the right decision for you. I don't think you care any less for your chickens because you made a different choice than me. I'm sure your chickens are happy, healthy and safe, and I'm glad they have you to care for them.
Thanks,

A.R.

Wasn't trying to insinuate that you don't care about your chickens because you don't heat your coop. In fact, I don't advocate for heaters any more than I advocate for other winterization techniques (you'll notice that I don't refer to people who don't heat their coops, I refer to people who believe "chickens don't get cold.") It's obvious you believe chickens DO get cold since you've devoted so much effort to keep your chickens comfortable. I know a some people really DON'T think chickens can get cold, and others think they CAN get cold but it's not worth doing anything about. I'd love to elaborate on that, but I'd have to brush up against animal welfare, which I've noticed is not welcome on BYC. I'd love to move this discussion to PM though, if you're so inclined

 

[prairiepearls]

Quote:
That would certainly make me sleep easier. How many chickens do you have? How big is your coop? Do you heat it at all? Is it insulated?