Rooster and Hens with a warming light on 24/7

[MinnieDingle]

@ 4 the Birds Thanks for your reply, I was concerned that the actual light from the heater is an issue and your response assures me that it is. Our coop is pretty small but the pen area where they can go "out to play" is rather large. I think we are going to try the tin roof idea that another member posted. This weekend we're going to surround the heat lamp with the tin so the coop will remain warm but the light will be hidden. Thanks again,
MK

 

[MinnieDingle]

@ Bullsie. Thanks for your thoughts. Interesting 5 cents! We will definatley take advantage of the snow as an insulator as well
Thanks, MK

 

[Going Quackers]

Also in Southern On, i heat nobody here and yes i have silikies.. we've gone pretty cold in my parts and the silkies have been fine. Everything i have ever read about silkies is they are cold hardy, ours are out and about, the roos being the most bold.

I am not anti heat in some circumstances IT is needed but those would be extremes, heat lamps make for unnatural temp and acclimatize your birds to not realistic temperatures, if your hydro goes out that temp will plummet and fast. Well vented, draft free housing is key.

 

[res]

I only have 2 silkies - a hen and a rooster. They have the option of going into a coop at night that is heated with a red heat lamp but instead, prefer to hunker down in the run each night. Their choice... Hopefully they made the right one and I don't find them frozen to death some cold morning. It hasn't been too awful cold here yet - we've had a few nights in the 20's but not many.

 

[Going Quackers]

I only have 2 silkies - a hen and a rooster. They have the option of going into a coop at night that is heated with a red heat lamp but instead, prefer to hunker down in the run each night. Their choice... Hopefully they made the right one and I don't find them frozen to death some cold morning. It hasn't been too awful cold here yet - we've had a few nights in the 20's but not many.

They may be finding it to hot in the coop, we have 3 flocks of silkies... they break down as 4, 2 and 5... none have heat, we've been way below freezing as of late, i was touch concerned with the pair of roos but it's a small coop with good venting they were just as sassy as ever lol

 

[res]

They may be finding it to hot in the coop, we have 3 flocks of silkies... they break down as 4, 2 and 5... none have heat, we've been way below freezing as of late, i was touch concerned with the pair of roos but it's a small coop with good venting they were just as sassy as ever lol

I doubt it can be too hot... The coop is 8x10 and 8' tall at the peak, so it is way too big to be fully heated by a single heat lamp. The heat lamp is in there for the 4-wk old chicks to huddle under if they need it - on the coldest morning so far, the coop was warmer than the outside air, but no where near "room temperature" or warmer.

Not sure what their deal is, it may be that the momma hen has chased them too much, but they have shared the space with her and the chicks since they hatched.