overwintering birds?

First thing is you should probably get a heat lamp. Don't automatically turn it on though because the chickens will need to grow their winter coats (feathers) in. By putting a heat lamp on too soon you are not allowing them to do what nature has expected for hundreds of years. Second of all, you can either get one of those heater elements to place under your water container or you can purchase a heated dog bowl. Either way works. I haven't heard of chickens pecking at the electrical cords,but I guess it could be possible. I told my hubby that we shouldn't turn the heat lamps (brooder light fixture with a 250 watt red bulb) on until it gets close to freezing. I know that sounds mean, but I know that they need the cold to grow the winter plumage in. Otherwise, what's going to happen if there is a power outage? No winter feathers grown properly equals death from no power. Just my humble opinion.

 

I agree, we use a timer to turn our heat lamps on at the coldest part of the night.

If you can close up the coup at night to prevent the wind from blowing in that will help quite a bit.

one of our heat lamps is aimed to shine on the waterer, it doesnt keep it warm just enough to prevent it from freezing up.

 

It doesn't get that cold here, at worst usually just in the teens, but most importantly is draft free if you have winds. Mine actually sleep outside year long with no problems. They just eat more. I wouldn't give a heat lamp to them since I've read that it can increase their susceptibility to being frost bit when they go out for the day. For freezing water... I just change it a few times a day with hot water and use rubber tubs rather than water founts.

 

Now, this is for the souther part of Minnsota, where is gets pretty cold...

I just talked to a friend of mine who's been farming all his life. He said when he had 11 chickens, he housed them in a 8x12 shed all winter with no insulation, just straw on the floor. He used no heat lamp and used a dog dish with heater so the water wouldn't freeze.

Now my neighbor who has hens in an 8x12 shed also, uses insulation, does not have a heat lamp, and he said he needs to keep 25 chickens to keep the water from freezing. So he doesnt need a heated dish.

I have 4 chickens and 2 goats in the same type of space. My plan is to insulate, keep a heated water dish for each, but to also stack straw bales in the shed. I figure this will fill up the space more so it'll be a bit more comfy in there and be easier to get to to clean and such in the winter. I plan on having a light as I understand chickens need 14 hours of light to keep laying.

Just remember, your grandparents probably never used a heat lamp or even lights in the winter, and the chickens did fine.

 

"Does anyone know how you can tell if a chicken is too cold?"

They get "Goose bumps"! HaHa

Tom D.

 

I don't provide heat for my chickens in the winter. Never have. Got a warming pad for a hen who got broody in january, and she wasn't even grateful!
I do use heated water bowls all winter. Have six of them for 3 pens, so i can rotate to clean.
Lived in western MA as a kid (long ago!!) and we never heated the chicken house back then either....and we had REAL winters back then.