Preparing Your Flock & Coop for WINTER

[cluckcluckgirl]

I would never use heat lamps in my coops, too much chance of starting a fire and it's completely unnecessary, detrimental even. What I do use are the heated dog waterers. The wattage is much lower and they are thermostatically controlled so they will not overheat if they are left dry. Liquid water is vital and it's a real pain to break out blocks of ice every day, only to have it freeze again soon after. I'm building new coops this year to expand our operations and a top priority is to design in strategic locations for the heated dog waterers.

Good husbandry without a lot of work is my goal for this winter.

Our heat lamps are even above my head when I'm in the chicken coop and they are secured in with hooks that you can't get them off of unless you really push. I know that most people probably don't have a coop that big, but it's just what works for us. We have to heat a 64 sq ft chicken coop, and the lamps have been our go-to.

 

[iwiw60]

Our heat lamps are even above my head when I'm in the chicken coop and they are secured in with hooks that you can't get them off of unless you really push. I know that most people probably don't have a coop that big, but it's just what works for us. We have to heat a 64 sq ft chicken coop, and the lamps have been our go-to.

I think what we all need to realize is that chickens do not need heat in the sense that we humans do. Most breeds do just fine down to -20. I mean, think about it...like in my case, my coop is 5' x 8', I have 4 full-grown Black Australorp (they're big birds), lots of floor bedding. The body heat that they will produce in the dead of winter will keep the coop at around +30-35 which is perfect. Plus when you heat the coop on top of their own body heat there's always that chance that it will get "humid" in there, and that's something no one wants for their birds...JMHO

 

[dheltzel]

I think what we all need to realize is that chickens do not need heat in the sense that we humans do. Most breeds do just fine down to -20. I mean, think about it...like in my case, my coop is 5' x 8', I have 4 full-grown Black Australorp (they're big birds), lots of floor bedding. The body heat that they will produce in the dead of winter will keep the coop at around +30-35 which is perfect. Plus when you heat the coop on top of their own body heat there's always that chance that it will get "humid" in there, and that's something no one wants for their birds...JMHO

Right! I would encourage anyone considering the use of any sort of supplemental heat for adult birds to research the topic here on this site. The overwhelming advice from experienced people is that heating is not only not necessary, but downright harmful, no matter how cold your winters get. Drafts are bad, cold temps are not. As long as they have enough calorie intake (plenty of food), and liquid water (to help burn those calories), chickens make all the heat they need.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

I think what we all need to realize is that chickens do not need heat in the sense that we humans do. Most breeds do just fine down to -20. I mean, think about it...like in my case, my coop is 5' x 8', I have 4 full-grown Black Australorp (they're big birds), lots of floor bedding. The body heat that they will produce in the dead of winter will keep the coop at around +30-35 which is perfect. Plus when you heat the coop on top of their own body heat there's always that chance that it will get "humid" in there, and that's something no one wants for their birds...JMHO

Yes, I realize that. The winters we get are very cold and snowy, so that means they're very humid. I always like to stay in the coop with them if I do have to tend to them because the coop is at the temp where water won't freeze, but it's not too humid with the heat either. Outside, you can start to feel any exposed area freeze if you're out for more than 20 minutes.

 

[Mrs. K]

When you are considering you winter arrangements, THINK DRY not WARM.

Imagine sitting in a five people in a car in the winter. Within minutes, the moisture begins to build up on the window and walls of the car. If you coop is tooo tight, it does in there too. Dry chickens are warm chickens, wet chickens are cold. Wet combs and wattles get frost bit.

Good ventilation keeps the coop from building up moisture and keeps them dry. Do not think Tight and Warm, thing open and dry!

Mrs K

 

[MeepBeep]

Right! I would encourage anyone considering the use of any sort of supplemental heat for adult birds to research the topic here on this site. The overwhelming advice from experienced people is that heating is not only not necessary, but downright harmful, no matter how cold your winters get. Drafts are bad, cold temps are not. As long as they have enough calorie intake (plenty of food), and liquid water (to help burn those calories), chickens make all the heat they need.

The answer is not that absolute nor black and white across the board, specific breed considerations have to be factored in... I have a mixed flock of chickens (full size and bantam), peafowl and guinea fowl in my coop/building as well as my dogs sometimes... I provide some additional ambient heat mostly for the peafowl as I know from experience they run the risk of frostbite on their feet and losing toes (even when using flat perches) in extreme cold temps... Simply not worth me risking injury to them when I can easy avoid the risk by not letting the coop fall below 35°... I also do not have to deal with frozen water or be bothered with water heaters when doing this... My coop building is two stories (about 1300 sqft total) and has a forced air gas furnace just like a house, I have it hooked up to a low temp (garage) thermostat set at about 35°F... No one is going to convince me this is not beneficial to the birds in the overall grand picture, but I would love to hear why some would claim me doing this is "downright harmful"... Now granted the size of my coop is much larger than many/most, but this is also part of the equation that distracts from an absolute black and white answer...

 

[artsyrobin]

the other consideration also, if you lose power and your birds aren't acclimated to the cold, they won't be able to handle the cold if you lose power- so i think the advice that is best for me is dry- i had a rescue cochin last year that lost all the tips of his toes but one to frostbite, which in researching found it is common in coops that are retaining moisture-

 

[bobbi-j]

I'm in MN - long, cold (temps to -20's - -30's), snowy winters. My coop is 8'x16' and 7' high. No insulation, no heat. I use a heated dog dish for water. I'll probably put the windows back in when it gets close to freezing, then shut the pop door when it gets below zero. Oh, and I'll add some more straw. The coop is well ventilated, and I don't have issues with frostbite. I prefer for them to be acclimated to the cold.

 

[iwiw60]

Just like we humans, chickens don't like "cold feet" either. If your girls have to travel from one place to another in the snow throw down some straw as their pathway(s) .. they'll love you for it!

 

[Cindy in PA]

The above article on the dangers of lighting points out some good things. Hatchery chickens however, are not bred like chickens of old & are indeed breed to lay many more eggs during the year & not quit with the season. Cutting more holes in your coop will do little to "give more daylight" when the sun is only around for 10 hours. JMHO