Questions about heat lamps???

[ErikCH]

If you are determined to add heat, maybe a heating pad? MUCH less risk. Just search coop fires. Most are the result of heating lamps.

But I agree with others: they'll be fine! I remember the first cold night for my flock. I don't know how many times I got up to check on them. Those little bodies stay warm thanks to feathers. I remember picking up a pullet on a snowy night and was surprised just how cozy warm she felt. It's why down parkas work so well.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[ErikCH]

In a coop that size risk of fire is greater and risk of injury to the birds is increased. Your coop is to small to safely have a heat lamp at all.

I am in northern Colorado and regularly get temps below zero. Your low temp listed is what our high temps often are in winter.

No heat. They don't need it and it actually can harm them more than help them.

Thank you for the advice!

 

[ErikCH]

Thank you guys! Looks like it’s a clear consensus of no heat lamp! I’m not so worried now about them being too cold after everyone’s advice

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thank you guys! Looks like it’s a clear consensus of no heat lamp! I’m not so worried now about them being too cold after everyone’s advice

Side note, I have some bantams as well as large breeds. My bantams have seen at least 8 winters with zero issues. Yup I have some senior citizens in my coops.

 

[RoosterML]

Thank you guys! Looks like it’s a clear consensus of no heat lamp! I’m not so worried now about them being too cold after everyone’s advice

Your birds are good, sometimes when we try to help we make things worse

 

[Mellowmalt]

I can highly recommend a 20 watt reptile heating mat. Just place it in there with not too much straw or obstructions ( they are far safer but can still be a fire risk) - that way the birds can sit on it if they want , just make sure they can sit soemwhere else too in case it gets too warm. An external thermostat or wheather station probe are great for monitoring the temps from a monitor. That way you know the temp in the coop vs outside temps (it might be alot warmer in there with the birds raising the temps) and you can keep an eye on the heat mat when you turn it on since it certainly does not need to be on all the time.

 

[RoosterML]

I’m north of you and I just let the birds out for the day. As soon as I pop the door open they are going outside without issue. 8*f in the coop this morning.

 

[Acre4Me]

15F is not too cold for the chickens!! So, as everyone else expressed, no need for heat.

We have a doubly secured heat lamp that is connected to a thermostat. The thermostat is programmed to turn on the heat lamp when temps (in the coop at roost level) getto 15F or below. The coop is always warmer than outside, to begin with. Not by a lot, but still warmer. So, when we have had temps get to -17F for an extended period of time, the coop temp hovered around 0F, so we took some of the chill off, but not actually warm. Overall, the heat lamp does not turn on very often, and I’m not aware of it having turned on at all this winter, bc we haven’t gotten much below 15F yet.

 

[aart]

Just say NO!

 

[ErikCH]

I can highly recommend a 20 watt reptile heating mat. Just place it in there with not too much straw or obstructions ( they are far safer but can still be a fire risk) - that way the birds can sit on it if they want , just make sure they can sit soemwhere else too in case it gets too warm. An external thermostat or wheather station probe are great for monitoring the temps from a monitor. That way you know the temp in the coop vs outside temps (it might be alot warmer in there with the birds raising the temps) and you can keep an eye on the heat mat when you turn it on since it certainly does not need to be on all the time.

Thanks for the advice!